UAlbany is America East Winner & Athletes of the Year Announced

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The University at Albany has been awarded the
2004-05 America East Stuart P. Haskell, Jr., Commissioner's Cup

It is the first such award for the Great Danes, who recently completed their fourth season in the America East conference. The Commissioner's Cup annually recognizes the strongest athletic program in the conference as determined by a scoring system which rewards a school for success both during the regular season and at championship competition in the conference's 22 sports.

UAlbany totaled 380 points to unseat Boston University, which had 368 points and had won each of the last three Commissioner's Cups. Binghamton University (357) was third, followed by University of Maine (332), Northeastern University (316), University of New Hampshire (308), Stony Brook University (266), University of Vermont (242), UMBC (236) and University of Hartford (151).

UAlbany's point total was bolstered by championships in volleyball, men's lacrosse, men's outdoor track and field, and softball. In addition, the Great Danes were runners-up in men's indoor track and field, and women's golf. The men's soccer, volleyball, men's lacrosse and softball teams either won or shared the regular-season titles.

"The Commissioner's Cup represents the hard work, dedication and tireless efforts of UAlbany's student-athletes, coaches, administrative staff and campus leadership," said Dr. Lee McElroy, Director of Athletics at Albany. "This teamwork approach has allowed us to build a comprehensive athletic program for men and women that strives for excellence with the goal of performing at a consistent level."

The Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup is named in honor of the first commissioner of America East. Haskell served as commissioner of the conference from 1987 until his retirement in 1997.

UAlbany Announces 2004-05 Male & Female Athletes of the Year

Luke Daquino, an All-America lacrosse attackman, and Blair Buchanan, a volleyball setter who also earned All-American recognition, have been chosen as the University at Albany's 2004-05 Male and Female Athletes of the Year. The athletes were selected in voting by the head coaches of UAlbany's 19-sport intercollegiate program.


	Luke Daquino

Daquino, a senior from Farmingville, N.Y., was chosen to the 2005 STX-USILA All-America squad as an honorable mention selection. He made his third consecutive appearance on the All-America East Conference first team. Daquino ranked third in assists (2.31 pg) and fifth in scoring (4.38 ppg) among the NCAA Division I leaders. He totaled 33 goals and 37 assists for 70 points, the sixth highest single-season total in UAlbany history. Daquino, who was named to the America East all-tournament team for the fourth straight year, tallied five or more points against nine opponents.

Daquino led the Great Danes to the America East championship and the program's third consecutive NCAA tournament berth. UAlbany tied a school record with a 10-6 mark, and was ranked No. 13 nationally in the final regular-season USILA poll. Daquino, the first UAlbany player to score 50-plus points in four straight seasons, finished his career as the program's all-time scorer with 234 points (103 goals, 131 assists). He shattered a record that had stood since 1992.


	Blair Buchanan

Buchanan, a sophomore from Muncie, Ind., was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's All-America team in the honorable mention category. An AVCA All-Northeast Region selection, Buchanan was voted the 2004 America East Conference Player and Setter of the Year. She is the first player in conference history to receive both awards. Buchanan led UAlbany to its first-ever America East championship with a 27-7 record. The Great Danes became the first women's program in school history to earn an NCAA Division I tournament berth.

Buchanan, a first-team all-conference choice, averaged a league-leading 12.59 assists per game, plus set the school's single-season record with 1,448 assists. She had 50 or more assists against nine opponents, including a UAlbany single-game record 71 vs. Stony Brook. Buchanan, who was a member of the America East all-tournament squad when her team posted a thrilling five-game victory over Maine in the championship final, also averaged 1.28 kills and 2.31 digs to go with a .331 hitting percentage.