NECVA All-Division teams
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth's men's volleyball team, champion of the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association's Western Division, earned several post-season accolades Thursday with the announcement of the conference all-star teams.
The Golden Flyers have five players named to the first team and one to the second team through voting conducted among the league's head coaches. In addition, Nazareth freshman
Billy Gimello was chosen Rookie of the Year and fifth-year coach Cal Wickens was selected Coach of the Year.
Named to the first team for Nazareth were Gimello as an outside hitter; seniors
Ryan Johnsen and
Kelvin Rolle as middle blockers; senior
Chris DeHority as a libero; and senior
Frank Leahy as a setter. Second-team selections included senior
Joe Petzoldt as an outside hitter.
Gimello, of Hauppauge, N.Y. and a graduate of Hauppauge High School, leads the Golden Flyers in kill with 393 (4.09 per set) and ranks among the national leaders in hitting percentage (.357) and blocks (0.95 per set).
Johnsen, of Hamburg, N.Y. and a graduate of Hamburg High School, ranks second nationally in blocks with 1.45 per set. He also has 185 kills and a .425 hitting percentage. Rolle, of Henrietta, N.Y. and a graduate of Rush-Henrietta High School, has 206 kills and a hitting percentage of .454. He also ranks among the national leaders in blocks with 1.11 per set.
DeHority, of Rochester, N.Y. and a graduate of Churchville-Chili High School, is among the national leaders in digs with 306 (3.00 per set) and is Nazareth's all-time leader in that category with 1,110.
Leahy, of Smithtown, N.Y. and a graduate of Smithtown High School, is the national leader in assists with 1,206 (13.11 per set) and is Nazareth's all-time leader with 4,562.
Petzoldt, of Phelps, N.Y. and a graduate of Midlakes High School, ranks second on the team in kills with 242 (3.06 per set) and ranks second all-time at Nazareth with 1,222 for his career.
Nazareth is in action this weekend at the NECVA Championship Tournament at MIT. The Golden Flyers, 25-4 and ranked fifth nationally, play Emmanuel in a first-round match Friday at 2 p.m.