Union, N.J. (8/13/25) – Kean University Athletics is proud to announce the 24th induction class of the Benisch Athletics Hall of Fame. This year's induction will take place during Homecoming Weekend.
Five individuals and two teams will be enshrined on Sunday, October 5th during a brunch on campus in their honor. This year's class honors Nick Angisani (men's lacrosse, 2009-12), Bez Arslani (men's volleyball, 2014-15), Shauna LaMaina (field hockey/women's lacrosse 2014-17), Carly Seidel (women's soccer, 2009-12), Jodi Valenti (women's tennis, 1999-2003), the 1990-91 men's basketball team and the 1995 women's volleyball team.
Angrisani is no stranger to the Cougar family, currently serving as an assistant coach in the program. During his senior season he was named a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Honorable Mention All-American, while being selected to participate in the USILA Senior All-Star Game (North/South Game). During his four years, he compiled 111 points on 84 goals and 27 assists while playing in 66 games. Angrisani was named to the Skyline All-Conference team three times and helped the team advance to the Skyline Conference tournament each of his four years. He added 120 groundballs and 41 caused turnovers to his career numbers and was a part of two Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament teams. His sophomore season culminated with Kean's fourth ECAC tournament crown.
Arslani is also a familiar face, currently serving as the head men's volleyball coach at Kean for the past three seasons. He played for two seasons for the Cougars upon transferring to Kean and earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American honors in both seasons, receiving first-team honors in his senior year. Arslani was tabbed the Skyline Player of the Year in both 2014 and 2015 while helping the Cougars to their third and fourth consecutive conference regular season and tournament championships. He also propelled Kean to their third and fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance. Arslani registered 667 kills (sixth all-time) in just two seasons while adding 134 total blocks, 67 aces and 253 digs. Off the court, he was named to the College Sports Information of America's Academic All-American squad.
LaMaina was a two-sport athlete for the Cougars, competing in both field hockey and lacrosse. While successful in both sports, she excelled in field hockey, earning National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) First Team All-American honors her senior year in addition to participating in the NFHCA Senior All-Star game. LaMaina was tabbed New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Defender of the Year in 2017 while being named to the All-NJAC team three times in her career. She helped the Cougars to postseason appearances in all four seasons with three trips to the ECAC tournament and an NCAA appearance in her senior year. The Cougars recorded two wins in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Elite 8. LaMaina still holds three program records registering three defensive saves in a game, 15 assists in a season and 36 career assists. She finished with 32 goals and 13 defensive saves. While playing in the spring, she collected 64 groundballs and 36 caused turnovers while starting for three seasons.
Seidel becomes the sixth women's soccer player inducted into the Hall of Fame. She is one of a few Cougars to earn both NJAC Rookie of the Year and NJAC Offensive Player of the Year honors during a career. Along with her conference accolades, she twice earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region honors. Seidel started all but nine games in her career and tallied 97 points (38 goals, 21 assists) along with 12 game-winners. Those numbers put her in the top five in goals and points and top 10 in assists. She helped the Cougars to the postseason three times and pushed Kean to their first championship in program history as she was named the Most Outstanding Player for the ECAC Metro Championship in 2012. Seidel scored three goals in two days, including the game-winner in overtime of the championship.
Valenti is the seventh women's tennis player to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. She compiled 49 wins while playing singles matches, including tournaments. She still holds the program record for combined singles victories in a season, recording 20 in her junior campaign in 2001. Valenti returned to Kean in 2013 and has served as the head coach since then. She earned NJAC Coach of the Year honors in 2015.
The 1990-01 men's basketball team finished the season with a 24-6 record, still the most wins in school history. The squad won the program's third NJAC crown and first since 1978. The Cougars advanced all the way to the Final Eight of the NCAA Tournament, just their second appearance in the NCAA tournament in program history. Hall of Famer Herman Alston was named the NJAC Player of the Year and still holds the career mark for points recording 2,457. Mendell Foreman earned NJAC Rookie of the Year honors and teammate Donnelly McCants was named first team All-NJAC. Head coach Ron Kornegay was selected by his peers as NJAC Coach of the Year.
The 1995 women's volleyball team finished the season with a 35-6 overall mark, collecting the most wins in a season in school history. The Cougars won the NJAC championship that season, marking their third straight crown and fifth overall. Kean appeared in the NCAA tournament for the second time in program history. Hall of Famer Loretta Zahn was named the NJAC Player of the Year for the third time and was selected as the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year. That season, Zahn led the nation in kills with a program record 695. Terri Day was a two-time All-NJAC award winner who then finished first in program history with 1,189 assists in a season and 3,049 in a career. Those marks still fall in the top 5.
