Michael de la Cruz of North Greenville and Gustavo Cavalcanti of Emmanuel Named to Off The Block Freshman All-American Team
GREENVILLE, S.C. - A nationwide voting committee selected 11 players to the annual Off The Block Freshman All-America Team and Michael de la Cruz of North Greenville and Gustavo Cavalcanti of Emmanuel represented Conference Carolinas on the team.
The 2022 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, de la Cruz helped lead the Crusaders to the NCAA National Tournament and the first-ever win for Conference Carolinas at the tournament. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker from San Juan, Puerto Rico finished the season third on the team in kills with 202 as he averaged 2.10 per set. He led the team in service aces (49) and total blocks (87) while also contributing 51 digs on the season. He was one of four middle attackers named to the All-American team.
Cavalcanti was one of four outside attackers named to the team after he led the Lions to their first-ever Conference Carolinas Championship final site appearance. A 6-foot-4 outside hitter from Lisbon, Portugal, Cavalcanti led Emmanuel in kills (389) and averaged 3.81 per set while hitting .262 on the season. He also had a league-best 56 service aces and added 54 blocks and 126 digs on the year.
The Off the Block Freshmen All-America Team honors the top NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball freshmen players from the regular season. This is the 10th year Off the Block has presented the national honor, which remains the only Freshmen All-American Team presented in college men’s volleyball.
Players eligible for this award must have been listed as a freshman or redshirt freshman on the active roster for an NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball team.
A voting committee of about 20 men’s volleyball coaches and volleyball media members determined the Freshmen All-American Team.
A player making the Freshmen All-America Team had to be among the top 10 vote-getters and appear on at least one-fourth of all the fully submitted voting ballots. A tie in the voting resulted in an additional player making the team this year.