Conference Carolinas releases 2024 men's volleyball all-conference honors
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas announced the 2024 men's volleyball all-conference honors prior to the start of the Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Championship semifinals on Friday, April 19.
The all-conference awards were chosen by the league's head coaches.
Matthew Staskunas of Belmont Abbey was named offensive player of the year as he ranked in the league's top 10 in four different categories. The outside hitter posted a .283 attack percentage, good for sixth in the league, while averaging 3.21 kills per set which ranks him seventh in Conference Carolinas. At the service line, he ranks third in the league with an average of 0.39 aces per set. The New Berlin, Wisconsin native added averages of 1.56 digs and 3.91 points per set.
Nicklas Eichenberger of Emmanuel was tabbed defensive player of the year following a spectacular season in the back row. He was the only player in the league to average at least 3.00 digs per set. His average of 3.09 digs per set not only leads Conference Carolinas, but that mark leads all of NCAA Division I. The Lee's Summit, Missouri native posted at least 10 digs in a match 16 times, including a season-high 27 in a match against Barton.
In his first year on campus, Joseph Morris of Belmont Abbey was selected freshman of the year. The setter ranked fifth in the league with an average of 9.53 assists per set while ranking seventh with an average of 1.83 digs per set. The Bethesda, Maryland native added an average of 0.79 blocks per set to rank 12th in Conference Carolinas.
Belmont Abbey's Derek Sullivan garners coach of the year honors after leading the Crusaders to their first regular season conference title in program history. In his third season leading his alma mater, Sullivan guided the Crusaders to a 13-1 record in Conference Carolinas play while going 19-4 overall.
2024 Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball All-Conference
Offensive Player of the Year
Matthew Staskunas, Belmont Abbey
Defensive Player of the Year
Nicklas Eichenberger, Emmanuel
Freshman of the Year
Joseph Morris, Belmont Abbey
Coach of the Year
Derek Sullivan, Belmont Abbey
First Team
Matthew Staskunas, Belmont Abbey
Edgerrin Austin, Erskine
Diego Rosich, North Greenville
Eli Zdonek, Emmanuel
Zach Puentes, Belmont Abbey
Jackson Lahey, Mount Olive
Nicklas Eichenberger, Emmanuel
Second Team
Michael de la Cruz, North Greenville
Holden Maryott, Mount Olive
Jibriel Elhaddad, Belmont Abbey
Warren Davis, King
Pablo Zamar, Erskine
Joseph Morris, Belmont Abbey
Alejandro Leon, Belmont Abbey
Third Team
Hayden Frear, Mount Olive
Thomas Fanic, Barton
Kellan Kennedy, King
Wiktor Ankurowski, Erskine
Kacper Rybarczyk, Erskine
Logan Taylor, North Greenville
Mikey Widmyer, Erskine