Union College Volleyball Stars Shine On and Off the Court
In a remarkable testament to their dedication both on and off the court, three standout athletes from the Union College women’s volleyball team have landed spots on the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Academic All-District Teams.
Junior Graciela Escobar and sophomores Georgia Pinciaro and Allie Kronenberg haven’t just shown exceptional talent in their sport—they’ve also excelled academically, meeting the tough standards set by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).
Union College Volleyball Stars Shine On and Off the Court
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Union College’s women’s volleyball team has always been a powerhouse. This year, though, three players pushed the program’s prestige even higher by earning Academic All-District honors.
These accolades aren’t easy to snag. Athletes must compete in most of their team’s matches while keeping a GPA of 3.50 or higher.
Graciela Escobar, Georgia Pinciaro, and Allie Kronenberg each bring unique strengths to the team and their academic pursuits.
Allie Kronenberg: A Setter with a Vision
Allie Kronenberg, a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering, plays a pivotal role for the Garnet Chargers. As the team’s primary setter, she’s racked up some impressive numbers.
Kronenberg led the team with 1,020 assists, averaging 9.81 assists per set—third in the Liberty League. Her performance this season earned her a spot on the All-Liberty League second team for the second year in a row.
She also contributed 68 kills, 26 service aces, and led the team with 59 blocks. Kronenberg ranked third on the team with 210 digs.
Her consistency stands out: she recorded at least 20 assists in 29 of 31 matches this season. She notched a career-best 54 assists in a match against Oswego State.
Through two seasons, she’s already seventh in school history with 1,862 assists. Her average of 8.87 assists per set is the highest ever for a Union player with at least 200 sets played.
Graciela Escobar: Defensive Dynamo
Junior Graciela Escobar anchors Union’s defense. As a key back row player, Escobar’s impact goes beyond just defense.
The biochemistry and Spanish and Hispanic studies double major played in 28 matches with 20 starts this season. She finished fourth on the team with 188 digs and 22 service aces, averaging a career-best 2.27 digs per set.
Escobar also chipped in 14 kills and 14 assists. Over three seasons, she’s collected 436 digs, 74 service aces, and 103 kills in 222 sets.
Balancing a double major with athletics takes serious dedication and time management skills—she makes it look almost easy, but you know it’s not.
Georgia Pinciaro: Offensive Powerhouse
Sophomore Georgia Pinciaro has made a big impact as an outside hitter for the Garnet Chargers. An economics major, Pinciaro played in all 31 matches this season, missing just two of the team’s 108 sets.
She ranked second on the team with 194 kills, showing off her offensive ability. Pinciaro managed at least one kill in every match and hit five or more kills in 22 matches.
She also ranked fourth on the team with 36 blocks and added 47 digs. Over two seasons, she’s averaged over two kills per set, with totals of 411 kills, 60 blocks, and 93 digs in 200 sets.
Keeping up that level of play while pursuing an economics degree? That’s some serious work ethic.
Balancing Academics and Athletics
Escobar, Kronenberg, and Pinciaro show just how important it is to balance academics and athletics. The CSC Academic All-District honors require a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, along with high-level athletic performance.
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These three have not only met those standards—they’ve blown right past them.
The recognition also highlights the support systems at Union College. The school invests in academic advising, tutoring, and career services to help student-athletes handle the demands of both worlds.
Union College’s Legacy of Excellence
With these three new honors, Union College student-athletes have now earned 286 Academic All-District awards since 2001. That’s a pretty impressive track record, and it says a lot about the institution’s focus on developing well-rounded people.
For more details on these athletes and the Union College women’s volleyball team, check out the full announcement on the Union Athletics website.
Looking Ahead
These athletes keep pushing forward in both academics and sports. Their future prospects look incredibly bright.
They’ve picked up skills and experiences through college sports and tough academic programs. Honestly, that’s going to help them in whatever comes next—whether that’s in their chosen careers or if they stick around in the sports world.
I can’t help but think the foundation they’ve built at Union College will carry them far. It’s not just about the wins or grades; it’s the whole experience that matters.
Escobar, Kronenberg, and Pinciaro getting recognized really inspires other student-athletes. Their journey shows that if you put in the work, have some grit, and get the right support, you can pull off big things in more than one part of life.
Union College isn’t just about sports victories. The school pushes for excellence and makes sure its athletes are ready for whatever comes after graduation—on the court or out in the world.