Megallon, Ruiz Win Potsdam Women's Vball Awards

POTSDAM, N.Y.-Senior captain Natalie Magallon (Commerce, Calif./Bell Gardens) and senior outside hitter Xanara Ruiz (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) are the SUNY Potsdam women's volleyball 2019 team honorees. Magallon is the program's Most Valuable Player and Ruiz claims the Coaches award. Magallon, a libero, stood out for the Bears again this season earning third team All-SUNYAC honors. Potsdam's captain led the team and was second in the SUNYAC in digs with 583. Magallon averaged 5.93 digs-per-set, which led the conference and was 18th best in the nation. In just two seasons with the Bears, she totaled 1,252 digs, 84 aces and 35 kills and averaged 5.99 digs-per-set. Last year, Magallon was first team All-SUNYAC as well as the the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. Ruiz played in 24 of the Bears' 27 matches in 2019. She totaled 18 kills, 15 assists, 20 service aces, 108 digs and three blocks. After transferring from Jefferson Community College, the outside hitter played two seasons in Potsdam. She finished with 64 kills, 22 assists, 41 service aces, 173 digs and 15 blocks. The Bears open 2020 at home on Sept. 1, when they host Clarkson University.