United Volleyball Conference | 3/11/2021 1:10:33 PM

The United Volleyball Conference is set to return to play for the 2021 season. Five teams will embark on an eight-match league schedule for the 2021 season through April 3. The top four teams will advance to the 2021 UVC Championship Tournament, with semifinals taking place on Friday, April 9 and championship on Sunday, April 11. The UVC Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2021 NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship.
 
“We are excited to preserve competitive opportunities for UVC student-athletes this season,” said UVC Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “It’s a tremendous credit to the Presidents, Directors of Athletics, and Athletic Training staffs at our member institutions to make this a reality.”
 
SUNY New Paltz will look to defend its United Volleyball Conference and NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championships, with league play starting on March 20. The Hawks finished 2019 with a 16-3 mark and opened the season ranked second in the 2021 NVA/AVCA Preseason Rankings. Vassar College opened the year ranked fourth nationally off the heels of a 16-5 mark in 2020, while St. John Fisher College opened 2021 ranked seventh in the NVA/AVCA Preseason poll. Nazareth College and Elmira College are both primed to make a deep postseason run in 2021.
   
Elmira
Elmira will be looking to return to the UVC Tournament after last making the postseason in 2018. Eight players return to the Soaring Eagles in 2021, including setter Neiram Galan-Canales, who made an immediate impact as a first-year standout in 2020. Classmate Eric Jackson will be expected to play a major role on the offensive end as an outside hitter, along with fellow sophomores Oscar Munoz Trinidad and Ryan Mattes along with junior Matt Amoddio.
 
Nazareth
Nazareth won 10 matches in 2020 and has 12 players returning to go along with three highly touted newcomers. After missing the UVC playoffs for the first time in 2019, Nazareth looks to regroup with a strong nucleus, including senior outside hitter Antonio Sargent, sophomore outside hitter Nate Allen and senior middle blocker Jacob Rhea. First-year standout Owen Wickens can play several different positions and will be expected to be a key contributor for the Golden Flyers.  
 
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY New Paltz, the defending NCAA Champions, are looking for their third national title in the last five years. The Hawks are the No. 2 ranked team in the 2021 AVCA Division III Men’s Volleyball Preseason poll. New Paltz returns 13 players from the 2019 championship squad and 17 from the 2020 team, including senior setter Matthew Grace, a two-time AVCA All-American and 2020 UVC Co-Player of the Year. Fellow senior Aaron Carrk was the 2019 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and 2020 AVCA First Team All-American. Senior middle blocker Nick O’Malley returns after garnering AVCA First Team All-American accolades, while classmate Robert Nolan will help lead the defensive unit. The Hawks have eight seniors on the 2021 roster.
 
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher returns a bevy of talent from the 2020 squad that finished 15-4 and were ranked as high as No. 7 nationally. Junior outside hitter Josh Bigford was named the 2020 UVC Co-Player of the Year, AVCA North Region Player of the Year and AVCA First Team All-American. He was second in the league and 15th nationally with 4.00 kills per set and 17th in Division III with 4.58 points per set. Senior setter Paul Hackford and senior libero David Cerqua along with junior middle blocker Ivan Lopez are also key pieces for the Cardinals. Cerqua earned AVCA First Team All-American accolades last season after finishing fourth nationally with 3.15 digs per set.
 
Vassar
Vassar returns 14 players from last season, including 2020 UVC Rookie of the Year, AVCA North Region Newcomer of the Year and AVCA First Team All-American Gavin van Beveren. van Beveren enjoyed an incredible debut in 2020, finishing third nationally with a .434 hitting percentage to go along with 190 kills, 71 blocks and 22 service aces. The Brewers have plenty of upperclassmen leadership, as the senior trio of middle blocker Ryan Duchemin and liberos Ben Brody and Garth Verdeflor will serve as team captains.
 
^ Bard, MIT and NYU have opted out of league play for the 2021 season.
 
Final 2020 UVC Standings %
Vassar (16-5, 6-1 UVC)
SUNY New Paltz (16-3, 4-1 UVC)
St. John Fisher (15-4, 3-1 UVC)
NYU (13-3, 4-2 UVC)
MIT (17-4, 4-1 UVC)
Nazareth (10-12, 1-3 UVC)
Elmira (5-15, 1-4 UVC)
^ Sage (5-7, 0-5 UVC)
Bard (1-15, 0-5 UVC)

% - Season ended in mid-March due to COVID-19. The UVC Championship Tournament was canceled.
^ - Sage moved to the New England Collegiate Conference effective for the 2021 season
 
ABOUT THE UNITED VOLLEYBALL CONFERENCE
The United Volleyball Conference (UVC) is a volleyball-specific conference that features nine member institutions. The conference was founded in 2010 and began play in January of 2011. The UVC holds fair play and respect among its competitors to the highest regard and seeks to distinguish itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices.
 
For more on the UVC visit www.theuvc.org