NECVA RELEASE
JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...The New Jersey City University men’s volleyball team has been projected to finished fifth in the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Metro Division standings in the league’s preseason poll based on a vote of the division’s 10 head coaches.
In perhaps the NECVA’s most difficult division, NJCU, guided by third-year head coach CARLO EDRA, received 60 of a possible 100 points, and was voted fifth or higher in the poll on nine of 10 ballots.
NJCU, entering its 21st season of competition, finished fifth in the league last year. NJCU was 20-16 overall and 5-4 in the NECVA Metro, before advancing to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III South Semifinals for the fourth time in five years. The Gothic Knights were one of three schools in the 44-team conference last year that won 20 matches but did not make the NECVA Tournament [along with Lasell College and Stevenson University].
Stevens Institute of Technology, the 2009 NECVA conference champion and Division III Molten finalist, was selected first by the coaches, and received three first-place votes. Vassar College was second and earned two first-place votes. Ramapo College was third with two first-place nods while SUNY New Paltz, which also received three first-place selections, was predicted to finish fourth. Rounding out the Top 10 is Bard College, College of Mount Saint Vincent, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Yeshiva University and Sage College.
NJCU returns five starters and eight letterwinners from last year’s club, including junior libero CHRIS EDRA (Edison, NJ/JP Stevens), a Second-Team All-NECVA Metro Division selection in 2009. Also returning are junior setter JORGE RODRIGUEZ (Havana, Cuba/Memorial), senior setter/defensive specialist FELIPE SIQUEIRA (Newark, NJ/Science), and sophomore AUSTIN BRYANT (Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville). Bryant, a NECVA Metro Rookie of the Week pick on February 23, 2009, as a middle blocker, will slide over to play opposite this season, replacing graduating senior THIAGO SIQUEIRA (Newark, NJ/Science).
Sophomore KENNY LISK (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge), who came on strong at the end of last season as a reserve outside hitter, earning Metro Rookie of the Week honors on March 23, 2009, will slide into the starting lineup to replace KEVIN RODGERS (Clifton, NJ/Clifton), a Second-Team All-Metro recipient, who graduated second in the NJCU record books with 1,297 career kills. Rodgers becomes NJCU’s assistant coach this season.
Other returning letterwinners are junior right-side AJ SAFAVI (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) and junior libero WILTON JIMENEZ (Passaic, NJ/Passaic).
Several newcomers are expected to step in and make immediate contributions. Among those are freshman outside hitter JOSE MATTA (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Union Hill) and rookie middle hitter CASEY BLAKE (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne), both of whom will challenge for starting spots. Freshman middle blocker OSCAR MONTOYA (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) and rookie outside hitter MIKE VALENCIA# (West New York, NJ/Memorial), along with several other freshmen, are also expected to contribute. A full roster for the 2010 season is expected to be available on January 19.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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RANK
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SCHOOL (1st place votes)
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POINTS (out of 100)
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1.
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Stevens (3)
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91
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2.
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Vassar (2)
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87
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3.
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Ramapo (2)
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81
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4.
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SUNY New Paltz (3)
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80
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5.
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New Jersey City
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60
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6t.
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Bard
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45
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6t.
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Mount St. Vincent
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45
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8.
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NYU-Poly
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27
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9.
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Yeshiva
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19
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10.
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Sage
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15
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