SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Recent University of New England graduate Angie Brunette has been chosen the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) nominee for the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. CCC Assistant Commissioner Shannon O'Brien made the announcement today (July 24).

More than 120 NCAA female student-athletes representing multiple sports across NCAA Divisions I, II and III have been selected as 2014 Woman of the Year honorees by their athletics conferences and by independent schools. The conference honorees represent student-athletes from 15 different sports. By division, 52 honorees competed in Division I conferences, 25 competed in Division II, and 49 competed in Division III.

Brunette, a four-year member of the Nor'easters' volleyball program who graduated this past May, was a Dean's List Student who was selected UNE's Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the CCC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year in volleyball. She was a three-time academic all-conference selection and a member of Chi Alpha Sigma -- the national student-athlete honor society. On the court Brunette was a three-time all-conference pick, earning first team honors as a senior. She served as a captain her senior season and participated in more than 25 community service projects over the past four years. Brunette, who was also the recipient of UNE's Female Senior Leadership Award, is currently pursuing a master of science degree in occupational therapy at UNE.

"Angie is a very special individual and truly embodies what it means to be a Division III student-athlete," commented UNE Director of Athletics Kim Allen. "Her academic resume coupled with her performance on the volleyball court and involvement in the community make her an exceptional candidate for such a prestigious honor. We are very proud of Angie and the fact that she is the CCC nominee and advancing in the process."

Brunette was surprised upon hearing the news.

"I am so honored that my accomplishments stood out in the eyes of others, because to me I'm just being what my idea of a student-athlete is," Brunette said. "It was never my intention that my volunteer activities or academic and athletics achievements would win me awards and gain me recognition; I simply grabbed hold of opportunities that were presented to me and strived to do my personal best. I could not have been successful without the help of the tremendous support I received along the way."

Next, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee will select the top 10 honorees in each division from this pool to be recognized. These top 30 honorees will be announced in early September.   The selection committee will then choose and announce the top nine finalists (three from each division) at the end of September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will vote from amongst those nine finalists to determine the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year.

The top 30 honorees will be honored and the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced at the annual ceremony in Indianapolis on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Now in its 24th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female student-athletes for their achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.