New Paltz Sets Sights on Making Impact in First Year of UVC
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – After posting an overall record of 19-16 and qualifying for the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Championship Tournament during the 2010 season, the State University of New York at New Paltz men’s volleyball team has its sights set on making an impact in the inaugural year of the United Volleyball Conference (UVC).
2011 marks an exciting time for New Paltz men’s volleyball, as the program is one of 12 that formed the UVC. The UVC, which is comprised of institutions steeped in academic and athletic tradition, will present the Hawks with a golden opportunity to chase a conference title against like-minded schools.
Head coach Radu Petrus enters his fifth year at the helm, carrying with him a career mark of 74-61. Petrus believes that this year’s squad has the potential to establish itself as one of the top teams in all of NCAA Division III.
“It is our goal this year to be ranked in the [AVCA] top 10,” Petrus said. “We will play just about every nationally-ranked team with the exception of Springfield and Juniata, so we will have the opportunity to prove ourselves.”
Kevin Stross was the NCAA Division III statistical champion in hitting percentage last year (.467).
The Hawks are led by junior middle blocker Kevin Stross (Port Washington, N.Y.), whose leadership as a team co-captain will be relied upon heavily. Stross led all of NCAA Division III in hitting percentage last year, hitting at an astounding .467 clip on the season. A superb player both physically and mentally, Petrus cites him as an integral catalyst for instilling strong team chemistry.
“Kevin is always working with our other front row players and is making them better,” Petrus said. “He’s always making sure that everyone is on the same page. In volleyball, it’s very important that everyone knows what each other’s roles are. Kevin’s leadership helps us achieve that chemistry.”
He is joined on the front row by junior opposite Mike Van Tyne (Rochester, N.Y.), also a co-captain. Van Tyne, who is suiting up for the Hawks for a third season, expects to play an increasingly larger role on the attacking end as well as on the blocking end.
Petrus sings the praises of freshman middle blocker/opposite Brian O’Connor (Guilderland, N.Y.), who should contribute immediately in spite of his youth. Senior middle blocker Jonathan Van Dyke (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) brings size to the front row, boasting a 6-foot-7 frame, and freshman middle blocker Dylan Rabidoux (Rochester, N.Y.) poses a similar presence. After a successful collegiate swimming career at both Stony Brook University and at New Paltz, senior outside hitter
Keith MacDonald (Monroe Township, N.J.) looks to use his athletic talents and high volleyball IQ to add depth up front. Sophomore outside hitter
Addison Baxter (Shoreham, N.Y.) and freshman outside hitter Victor Tuminelli (Dix Hills, N.Y.) round out the remainder of this corps.
Because of Stross’ newly-minted high profile, Petrus said that the other hitters are going to have to rise to the challenge of taking more swings.
“It’s going to be very, very difficult for Kevin to put up the numbers he did last year,” Petrus said. “Teams are going to game plan for him. However, that opens up the opportunity for others to step up and catch defenses off guard.”
The student-athlete setting these potent attack players is a man who is no stranger to the limelight. With 2,780 assists to his credit on his career, senior setter Andrew Cassius (Brooklyn, N.Y.) once again is the go-to setter and aspires to make history, as he sits a shade fewer than 1,000 assists shy of the program mark for all-time helpers. Backing up Cassius are two capable reserves in freshman setters Misa Garo (Bronx, N.Y.) and Brian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y.).
The team’s defensive specialists have not yet had a chance to flourish, but they aspire to do so in 2011 with a large increase in action. Cassius serves as a viable weapon on the defensive end of the floor, as he ranked second on the team last year with 230 digs. Junior defensive specialists/liberos Michael Dauernheim (Bay Shore, N.Y.) and Frank Ciccone (Long Beach, N.Y.) and junior defensive specialist Ramius Pruiss (Wallkill, N.Y.) played in a combined 88 sets in 2010, but they all will be counted on as they try to fill the shoes of Mike Fink Eric Rothbard, who combined for 402 of the Hawks’ 1,398 digs from last year.
Head coach Radu Petrus owns a career record of 74-61 across four years at the helm of the program.
With a daunting schedule replete with challenging opponents, the Hawks will have to establish themselves early in order to carry momentum into the latter portion of the season. New Paltz opens its season on Jan. 18 at home against Hunter College before squaring off with New York University just two days later. From Jan. 22-23, the Hawk Center will serve as host to the annual Hawks Tournament. The 2011 field includes Baruch College, Emmanuel College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Elms College in addition to New Paltz. The Hawks host Bard College on Feb. 3, which wraps up a string of seven consecutive home matches.
From Feb. 5-6, New Paltz will contest Elmira College and D’Youville College in Buffalo, N.Y., in the first UVC Crossover of the season. After hosting cross-river rival Vassar College on Feb. 9, the Hawks will travel to Rochester, N.Y., for the Nazareth Tournament. New Paltz plays in dual matches against SUNYIT, Lancaster Bible College, the Stevens Institute of Technology, Endicott College and Ramapo College before wrapping up league play at the second UVC Crossover of the year at Vassar.
The York College Men’s Volleyball Classic from March 11-12 will serve as the Hawks’ final regular-season tournament of the season, and they will finish with Baruch, Philadelphia Biblical University and the University of New Haven to round out the regular-season schedule.
The UVC Championships will occur from March 26-27, while the NECVA Championships are set for April 1-2.
With the opportunity at hand to make noise in a new conference, Petrus has set lofty expectations for his players.
“We want to be one of the top teams in the UVC,” Petrus said. “We want to be able to qualify as a quality seed in the end-of-the-year tournament.”