ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany women's volleyball's Shynelle Woroniuk received Grand honors at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year awards event, Monday evening.
 
Woroniuk, a five-year student-athlete for the Great Danes' women's volleyball team, was named the Grand Collegiate Woman of the Year for her accomplishments during her time in the Capital Region.
 
Across her career, she has excelled athletically, academically, and within the community, while consistently serving as one of the most respected voices in the UAlbany Athletics department.
 
On the court, Woroniuk has been one of the most impactful players in the volleyball program. A four-year team captain, she has been trusted by her coaches and teammates to lead through both success and adversity. She was a two-time America East First Team All-Conference selection, a two-time America East All-Tournament Team honoree, and a six-rotation starter for three seasons. She finished her career with 1,075 kills, 585 digs, 101.0 blocks, 69 service aces, 36 assists, and 1,196 points. Her production speaks for itself, but what has made her especially valuable to the team is the consistency, maturity, and accountability she brought to the gym every day.
 
Woroniuk's leadership has never been limited to statistics. As a captain, she helped set the standard for the volleyball program. She was involved in regular coach and captain meetings, helped organize team meetings, individual check-ins, bonding events, travel preparation, presentations, and film sessions. Those responsibilities are not always visible from the outside, but they are essential to the culture of a Division I program. She handled them with the same care and commitment that she brought to competition.
 
In the classroom, Woroniuk has been equally impressive. She is a two-time America East All-Academic Team selection, a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, a 2025 America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete, a four-time America East Academic Honor Roll member, and a three-time Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree. She was also named the 2025 SUNY Division I Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and earned Dean's List recognition in every possible semester. While pursuing her undergraduate degree in business administration with concentrations in marketing and management, and continuing into her MBA work, she demonstrated the same discipline and drive that made her successful as a student-athlete.
 
Woroniuk has also made a meaningful impact through community service and campus leadership. Through UAlbany volleyball and her role as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative, she has helped support and organize numerous initiatives, including UAlbany Volleyball's Community Night, To Life!, We Care, the Out of the Darkness Walk, Light the Night, Girls on the Run, The Red Bookshelf, and the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. She has also taken part in experiential learning opportunities with UAlbany Athletic Training and the Capital Region Small Business Development Center, where she helped support Alps Mountain Farm in developing its business plan and securing funding toward the opening of its business.
 
What stands out most is that her accomplishments are matched by the way she carries herself. She is humble, dependable, and thoughtful. She leads without needing attention, and she has earned the respect of teammates, coaches, classmates, and staff because of the way she consistently shows up for others. Whether competing on the court, working in the classroom, representing SAAC, or serving the community, Woroniuk has approached every responsibility with maturity and purpose.
 
The Capital District Sports Women of the Year award recognizes student-athletes who have achieved at a high level in athletics, academics, and community service. Shynelle Woroniuk represents all three in an outstanding way. She has left a lasting impact on UAlbany Athletics.
 
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