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Men's Volleyball
2008 Season Preview
It was another successful season for the Spartans in 2007, finishing with a 25-11 overall record and final national ranking of #7 in the CSTV/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll. The team posted their first winning record against Division I/II teams, and captured the D'Youville/Nickel City Invitational and North Eastern Athletic Tournament titles. The season's run was ended in the semifinals of the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association championship for the second-straight year.
Graduation hit the program hard at the end of the season. John Colosi and Chris Flierl were named First-Team All-Americans, becoming the fourth and fifth men's volleyball All-Americans from D'Youville College. The Spartans also lost to graduation three-time NECVA West Division All-Star Clinton Gilliland, four-year starter Chris Heftka, and the leadership of Chris Hanson.
Despite the departures, the cupboard is far from bare fro the Spartans in 2008. All-American candidate John Kofmehl (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) was fourth nationally in assists per game last season (11.97) and the senior setter has the challenge of directing a D'Youville offense that needs to blend experience and youth at the hitter positions.
Senior Bryan Walczak (Cheektowaga, NY/West Seneca East) is the top returning scorer from last season (2.74 kills per game) and will move to the right-side hitter position. Outside hitter Matt Frey (Clarence, NY/Clarence) will be asked to deliver more of the offensive load this season, along with experienced middle blockers Jim Forster (Irving, NY/Lake Shore) and Andrew Belden (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin).
The Spartans pride themselves on their defense capabilities and sophomore Alex Sikorski (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights), one of the team's best passers, will begin the season as the libero. Senior James Faragalli (Welland, ONT/Eastdale) is an outstanding role player that provides the Spartans with another defensive presence to the lineup.
The team's three freshmen will have an immediate impact this season. Outside hitter Spencer McIntyre (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) has shown a level of play far beyond the tag of first-year player. Brett Peters (Warsaw, NY/Pavilion) the tallest men's volleyball player ever at D'Youville (6-8), brings a the team a new blocking presence. The versatility of Jeremy Sajdak (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) adds depth to the setter, libero, and hitter positions.
The 2008 schedule provides the Spartans with a number of challenges. Over sixty-five percent of the team's schedule will be against nationally ranked Division III programs, as the team again prepares to battle for the top spot in North East Collegiate Volleyball Association's West Division, the conferences most competitive division.
D'Youville checked in at #8 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Preseason Coaches Poll. It is the the 70th consecutive AVCA Division III Poll D'Youville has cracked, the fifth-longest active streak among Division III programs, and 110th time (out of a possible 124 polls) D'Youville has been ranked since NCAA membership in 1998-99.
John Hutton, last year's NECVA West Co-Coach of the Year, enters his twelfth season at the helm. Hutton has guided the Spartans to a 196-114 record (.632), four division titles, three conference titles, and two Division III National Championship match appearances.
