ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Rising senior Ciera Hertelendy has been announced as the team captain for the Navy Women's Basketball program for the upcoming 2021-22 school year. A three-year member of the team, Hertelendy (Inwood, W.Va.) will work with the Mids' second-year head coach Tim Taylor and his coaching staff as the program looks forward to building off the momentum from this past season that saw the team collect wins in five of its final seven games and post the fifth-best winning percentage in the Patriot League conference.

"I am both honored and excited to be serving as NWB's team captain this upcoming season," remarked Hertelendy. "I have so much confidence in this team's ability to succeed both on and off the court. I am looking forward to improving over our first offseason together, as well as seeing what we can accomplish throughout the season. As captain I plan to come in everyday bringing the energy, and the mindset of getting better. I am excited to see what the future holds and I can't wait to get back to work with everyone."

"To be selected as a team captain at the Naval Academy is an incredible honor," said Taylor. "It comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility on and off the court. This selection as voted on by your teammates shows the trust you have earned and the expectation that you will continue to help guide and lead others. CC has earned the respect of her teammates through her consistent effort and servant leadership to her teammates. She is an incredible person and looking forward to her captaincy this year." 

Hertelendy's hard work and dedication helped her play herself into a key starting role for the Mids in 2020-21. After appearing in just 16 combined games during her first two seasons with Navy, she was  one of only three players to appear in all 12 games this past season. She began her junior campaign strong and immediately put herself in contention for a starting position after grabbing nine rebounds and four blocks in 19 minutes off the bench at George Mason in the season-opener. Two games later, Hertelendy was starting in the post for Navy at William & Mary on Dec. 13. The West Virginia native started each of the final 10 games of the season for Navy and finished with averages of 3.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 26.1 minutes per appearance. Hertelendy corralled six or more rebounds and at least one block in seven of those games as a starter.

For her success this past season, Hertelendy an oceanography major, was named the Mids' 2020-21 Most Improved Player earlier this month at the team's postseason banquet.