Tag Archives: College Player

Noelle Emmette Raymond

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Noelle attended Middletown High School in Middletown, Connecticut from 1984 to 1988. A natural multi-sport athlete, she rowed crew every spring apart from her senior year on the softball team. However, volleyball each fall was always her true passion. Under the guidance of Coach Paula Smalec-Astramowicz, a Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame (CWVBHF) Class of 2005 during her first year, Noelle quickly developed a strong foundation in the sport. Her growth as an athlete was further influenced by #1 Total Volleyball Camp, run by CWVBHF Class of 1998 inductee Debbie Chin. Even after Coach Astramowicz departed after only one season, Noelle continued to excel, earning All-Conference honors all four years, and serving as captain in her senior year.

Noelle’s success at Middletown High School led to a volleyball scholarship to Bryant University, where her career flourished. As a freshman, she was named the Northeast 10 Rookie of the Year, and by her senior year, she had earned numerous accolades, including 1st Team All-Conference selections (1988-1991),

NE10 Player of the Year (1991), again served as captain her senior year, and earned a spot on the American Volleyball Coaches Association AVCA Northeast All-Region team (1991). In addition, she was also named Bryant’s Outstanding Female Athlete in 1991.

Many years post-graduation, her impressive hitting percentage and kills/match stats drew the attention of the current Bulldogs Coach Theresa Garlacy. She extended an invitation, leading to Noelle’s induction into the Bryant University Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2006.

After college, she continued to play volleyball on various women’s and co-ed teams, in leagues and at tournaments. In one such league, she met her husband, David Raymond. Today Noelle works as a personal trainer at the Southington Community YMCA. Since 2012 she has been involved with referring, running, and supporting the Southington YMCA volleyball league.

Marianna Linnehan

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Marianna began her volleyball career when she was only 9 years old at her Greek church in Stamford, Connecticut. Her passion for the sport would only grow over the years until she attended Stamford High School. Over the next 4 years, under the coaching of Mike Smeriglio, Marianna would hone her talents as an outside hitter.

During Marianna’s senior year, the Black Knights would find themselves competing in the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) State Championship finals. The finals would mark the first time going this deep in the CIAC tournament for both Marianna and Coach Smeriglio. She was selected team captain her senior year and named to the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) Second team.

This Connecticut homegrown talent would find herself at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York for one season in 2002-2003, prior to transferring to Eastern Connecticut State University in 2004. At ECSU, Marianna would change positions from outside hitter to libero. This change of positions, proved to be historic for the Warriors. She would accumulate over 40 digs in 3 separate matches going on to break the school dig record of 1900 in just 3 seasons. This record stands today! Upon graduation, she ranked statistically among the highest in Aces as well.

During her career, Marianna was twice named Little East Conference (LEC) Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-LEC and LEC Tournament MVP and was also selected to the NUVA Senior Classic. She remains the only 2-time recipient of the LEC Tournament MVP and Defensive Player of the year in school history. The Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors won back to back LEC regular season titles and went on to compete in 3 straight LEC championships. Marianna was inducted into the Eastern Connecticut State University Hall of Fame in 2021.