GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced its 2014 Men’s Volleyball All-Conference selections, with first and second team honors being awarded regardless of position to a total of 14 student-athletes, as selected by the conference coaches.

The NEAC has also announced its men’s volleyball individual award winners, as voted on by the coaches.  Keuka College sophomore Connor Hinman (Lethbridge, Alberta) was selected as the NEAC Player of the Year after an excellent all-around season for the Storm.  The outside hitter tallied 237 kills and 172 digs on the season, leading the Storm in both categories and ranking in the top six in the conference for each as well.  His 3.08 kills per set average ranked second in the conference, as did his 3.6 points per set, while his 2.23 digs per set average placed him fifth overall. Hinman, a two-time NEAC Player of the Week selection and last year’s NEAC Tournament Most Valuable Player during the Storm’s championship run, had 14 matches with double-figure kill totals while posting five kill-dig double-doubles on the season.  He also added 35 blocks, 21 service aces and 13 assists on the season en route to his second straight All-Conference First Team selection.  

SUNY Institute of Technology junior Justin Rich (Hamburg, N.Y.) was selected as the NEAC Defensive Player of the Year after a terrific season for the Wildcats.  The libero tallied 196 digs and averaged 2.51 digs per set, which was the second-best mark in the conference, while committing just four ball handling errors all season.  Rich, a three-time NEAC Defensive Player of the Week selection, also anchored a Wildcat defense that posted 13 straight-set victories on the season to help SUNYIT post a program-best overall record of 18-5.  Rich was also selected to the NEAC All-Conference Second Team.

SUNYIT also took home another award, as Jake Bluhm was named NEAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to their best season in program history.  Bluhm led the Wildcats to a program-best 18-5 record this season, including going 7-1 in conference play to capture the NEAC regular season championship and the right to host this weekend’s NEAC Championships as the top seed.  This marked the third straight season that the Wildcats have improved their win-loss record under Bluhm.

The NEAC Rookie of the Year honor went to Wells College freshman Alex Battey (Palmdale, Calif.) after a strong season for the Express.  The middle hitter tallied 126 kills across 27 matches and was fourth in the conference with a .256 hitting percentage (126-47-309), which also led all first-year players.  That percentage jumped to .338 during conference play, as he hammered home 33 kills while committing just seven attack errors in 77 total attempts through eight NEAC matches.  He also posted 15 solo blocks on the year, which was the second-most in the NEAC, while his 40 total blocks were the ninth-most. His strong overall play helped the Express post their best season in program history at 16-11 overall and 5-3 in NEAC play.  

Below are the NEAC All-Conference First Team and Second Team selections:

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
The North Eastern Athletic Conference has twelve NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania State University - Abington, Pennsylvania State University - Berks, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Institute of Technology, SUNY Morrisville State College, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Bryn Athyn College and Pennsylvania College of the Technology will both join the conference as full members in 2014-15.  Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (M Volleyball), Hilbert College (M Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Penn State Altoona (M Volleyball) and Rutgers University - Camden (M Golf & M Tennis).  The North Eastern Athletic Conference has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of men’s and women’s tennis.