A three-sport athlete and co-captain in volleyball, basketball and softball. Denise Bates was twice named NJCAA All-New England (softball, volleyball) and Academic All-American (volleyball, basketball) in 1989 and 1990. Bates also earned a spot on the Endicott Varsity Club for Academic Excellence while being awarded both Athlete of the Year in 1989 and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1990 from Endicott.