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PHOTO GALLERY A four-year member of the Charger women’s volleyball program, Shirley Hoyte-Boyce ranks as one of the greatest all-around players in the program’s history. She anchored the Chargers to four-straight NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances from 1993 to 1996 and etched her name all over the UNH record books.
Hoyte-Boyce made an immediate impact as a freshman at New Haven. She finished second on the team with 408 kills and 109 total blocks. The Barbados native helped lead the Chargers to a 38-3 overall record and a perfect 35-0 regular season record against Division II opponents. New Haven advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight and Hoyte-Boyce earned her first postseason honors as an All-Northeast Region selection by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
In her sophomore season, Hoyte-Boyce and the Chargers recorded another 30-win season and advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight once again. She led the team with over 200 total blocks and was second on the team with 378 kills and 362 digs. Sweeping through their first 22 matches, the Chargers’ season concluded in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. Hoyte-Boyce earned her second-straight All-Northeast Region selection and was recognized with All-New England Collegiate Conference honors as well.
The 1995 campaign, much like her previous two seasons, was very successful for Hoyte-Boyce and the Chargers. New Haven again advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight and won the New England Collegiate Conference Championship with a 41-3 overall record. The middle hitter finished the season with an extraordinary .397 hitting percentage, placing her 13th in the nation. She led New Haven with 149 total blocks and a career-best 477 digs. She was recognized as the team’s most valuable player, the University’s Most Outstanding Athlete and received All-Conference honors.
Hoyte-Boyce’s final season was no different, as she led the Chargers to an amazing 44-2 overall record and the program’s fourth-straight NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance. She earned her fourth All-Northeast Region selection after recording another 372 kills, 273 digs and 115 total blocks. New Haven also won the New England Collegiate Conference Championship and enjoyed two 22-match winning streaks during the season.
During her tenure, the women’s volleyball program recorded a remarkable 160-11 record and four-straight NCAA Division II Northeast Region Championships. At the time of her graduation, Hoyte-Boyce’s accomplishments could be found all over the New Haven record books. She left as the all-time leader in digs, while ranking second in kills and blocks. Hoyte-Boyce is still the only Charger women’s volleyball student-athlete to tally more than 1,500 kills, 1,300 digs and 500 total blocks. She finished her illustrious career with 1,654 kills (currently fourth most), 1,387 digs (currently fifth most), 574 total blocks (currently third most) and 185 aces (currently eighth most).
