2014 All-Conference and Award Winners Announced
The United Volleyball Conference (UVC) regular season has ended and the 2014 all-conference teams and awards winners have been announced.
Player of the Year: Michael Vellutato, Elmira College
Conducting Elmira's offense all season long was Vellutato who has been one of the best setters in the country for the last three seasons. The Topanga, CA native ranked second in the UVC and third in the nation in assists per set at 10.20, and also led the conference in total assists by nearly 300 assists. Additionally, he ranked seventh in the UVC in service aces at 0.34 per set. Vellutato also set career-highs in kills with 85 and digs with 211.
Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year: Brendan Change, MIT
A primary passer for the Cardinal and Gray, Chang ranks fourth in the country and is second in the UVC in digs per set (3.21) while contributing to a serve receive that limits conference opponents to 0.88 aces per set.
Co-Rookie of the Year: Gabe Shankweiler, Stevens Institute of Technology
Shankweiler has tallied 401 points in his freshman campaign to lead all players for Stevens through 100 sets and is also tops with 351 kills. He ranks fourth in the UVC in kills and seventh in kills per set heading into this weekend's UVC Championship. Nationally, the outside hitter is 28th in kills per set and 34th in points per set.
Co-Rookie of the Year: Steven Woessner, New Paltz
Woessner leads the team and ranks second in the UVC in service aces per set (0.41), and he also paces the team with a .383 hitting percentage that ranks third in the UVC. Woessner also averages 2.04 kills per set, 0.79 blocks per set and 0.46 digs per set.
Co-Coach of the Year: Stephen England, Elmira College
Elmira put together a remarkable season with a 23-9 regular season record and an 8-3 mark in the UVC, both of which are program-best, while earning a fourth place finish in the UVC, Elmira's best-ever finish. Additionally, EC defeated five top-10 opponents, most ever in one season, which included a thrilling five-set victory over then-No. 5 UC Santa Cruz.
Co-Coach of the Year: Paul Dill, MIT
During their first year in the UVC, Dill led the Engineers to an 8-3 ledger and the No. 3 seed in the UVC Championship Tournament.
|
FIRST TEAM |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
|
Michael Vellutato |
Sr. |
S |
Elmira |
|
Trevor Barrett |
Sr. |
RS |
Medaille |
|
Luke Lawatsch |
Jr. |
MB |
Nazareth |
|
Tim Zyburt |
So. |
OH |
Nazareth |
|
Tim Ferriter |
So. |
OH |
New Paltz |
|
Connor Mortland |
Sr. |
S |
New York University |
|
Kevin Aeckerle |
Jr. |
S |
Stevens |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECOND TEAM |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
|
Erik Griffin |
So. |
OH |
Elmira |
|
Adam Weaver |
Sr. |
OH |
Hilbert |
|
Christian Smith |
So. |
S |
New Paltz |
|
Steven Woessner |
Fr. |
MB |
New Paltz |
|
Kenny Siebert |
Sr. |
OH |
MIT |
|
Paul Syta |
Sr. |
S |
MIT |
|
Nick Capriccio |
Sr. |
MB |
New York University |
|
|
|
|
|
|
HONORABLE MENTION |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
|
David Riggsby |
Jr. |
S |
Medaille |
|
Grant Levermore |
So. |
OH |
Nazareth |
|
Christopher Husmann |
So. |
MB |
New Paltz |
|
Nathan Steele |
Sr. |
OH |
Penn State-Behrend |
|
Alexandar Carpenter |
So. |
MH |
Stevens |
|
Gabe Shankweiler |
Fr. |
OH |
Stevens |
|
Chris Vaughan |
So. |
OH |
Stevens |
|
Joe Pyne |
Sr. |
OH |
Vassar |