WINGARD TABBED TO ECAC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL FIRST TEAM
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division III Men’s Volleyball All-ECAC selections and major award winners. Emmanuel College senior outside hitter Barrett Wingard (York, Pa.) has been named to the ECAC Men’s Volleyball First Team.
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division III Men's Volleyball All-ECAC selections and major award winners. Emmanuel College senior outside hitter Barrett Wingard (York, Pa.) has been named to the ECAC Men's Volleyball First Team.
Wingard enjoyed one of the most productive offensive seasons in Emmanuel College history, being named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year as well as a first team selection for the Saints. The York, Pa. native registered 430 kills to rank first in the conference and tied for first in the nation among D-III hitters, averaging 3.98 kills per set which also led all hitters in the GNAC while ranking fourth in the nation.
Wingard was one of only three GNAC players named to the All-ECAC squad joining Emerson's Jared Gross who was a Second Team and Defensive Player of the Year selection. Cameron Ponce of Johnson & Wales University also earned Second Team honors.
Luis Vega of Springfield College was voted as the Offensive Player of the Year, while Emerson College's Jared Gross garnered the award for Defensive Player of the Year. Stevenson University Outside Hitter Landon Shorts collected the Rookie of the Year honor, with Springfield's Charlie Sullivan rounding out the major awards with the Coach of the Year award.
Offensive Player of the Year
Luis Vega – Springfield College, Jr., Outside Hitter, Corozal, Puerto Rico
Vega had an outstanding year for the Pride, helping Springfield post a 26-3 record and earn the No. 2 overall seed in the 2016 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament. The junior led the team with 342 kills, posting the best hitting percentage of any outside hitter in Division III (.408 percent) en route to being named a First Team All-American. Vega also ranks second on the team in digs (164), blocks (78) and aces (39), as the Pride sit poised to challenge for a fourth championship since the NCAA began its sponsorship of the Division III Men's Volleyball National Championship in 2012.
Defensive Player of the Year
Jared Gro ss – Emerson College, Sr., Libero, Wexford, Pa.
Gross takes home the accolade for top defensive player after winning the same award in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. The senior led the GNAC in digs with 281 and digs per set (3.27) while establishing himself as a lynchpin of the Lions squad. Gross appeared in all 25 matches for Emerson, playing 86 of 88 sets on his way to earning All-GNAC First Team honors.
Rookie of the Year
Landon Shorts – Stevenson University, Fr., Outside Hitter, York, Pa
For Shorts, the Rookie of the Year award comes on the heels of collecting the corresponding honor in the Continental Volleyball Conference. The freshman led Stevenson in kills (303) and kills per set (3.12) to help the Mustangs capture their first-ever conference title. Shorts also made his presence felt from the service line, compiling 46 service aces during the regular season, plu s four more in postseason play to establish a new single-season program record.
Coach of the Year
Charlie Sullivan – Springfield College
Sullivan's award for Coach of the Year comes as the veteran head coach prepares his Pride team for another appearance in the NCAA DIII National Championship Tournament. Under Sullivan, Springfield posted a 26-3 record in 2016, a mark bolstered by a 20-match winning streak from Jan. 16 to March 4. Sullivan and his charges are looking to claim their fourth NCAA title since the organization began sponsoring a men's volleyball championship in 2012.
All-ECAC First Team
Tommy Rosario – Kean University, Sr.
Matthew Knigge – Vassar College, So.
Tim Ferriter – Stevens Institute of Technology, Sr.
Erik Griffin – Elmira College, Sr.
Lui s Vega – Springfield College, Jr.
Barrett Wingard – Emmanuel College, Sr.
Luis Garcia Rubio – Springfield College, Jr.
All-ECAC Second Team
Jared Gross – Emerson College, Sr.
Tim Zyburt – Nazareth College, Sr.
Matt Huey – Penn State Altoona, So.
Ricardo Padilla Ayala – Springfield College, So.
Jack Palleschi – John Jay College, Sr.
TJ Wiechecki – Marymount University, So.
Cameron Ponce – Johnson & Wales University, Fr.
*Release content courtesy of ECAC Athletic Communications Office