LATHAM, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) announced its selections for the 2020 Men’s Volleyball All-Conference Teams on Wednesday, honoring the top 12 players as voted on by the league’s coaches.  Regardless of position, the First and Second Teams were comprised of six players each.  The conference also revealed the individual award winners as voted on by the conference coaches. 

Wells College right side hitter Robert Patzer (Liverpool, N.Y.) and Lancaster Bible setter Reuben Kemrer (Columbia, Pa.) were selected as the NEAC Men’s Volleyball Co-Players of the Year.  Each were bestowed with the honor for the first time.  Both players were instrumental in leading their respective teams to recognition nationally as Lancaster Bible (17-3) ranked eighth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll while Wells College (18-4) was slotted 10th among Division III Men’s Volleyball programs.  Both teams were 4-0 in conference play. 

Patzer ranked among the top five overall among NEAC players in several key categories including kills (243), kills per set (3.33), total attacks (540), hitting percentage (.276), aces (23), digs (139), digs per set (1.90), points (287), points per set (3.9), and matches (21).  The 6-foot-6 junior was first in kills, kills per set, digs, points, points per set and matches.  Patzer registered double digit kills on 10 occasions including 20 kills in a victory at Penn State Behrend on Feb. 2 and also against Daemen on Feb. 14.  Displaying versatility, Patzer recorded at least eight digs in eight matches.  Patzer earned two NEAC Player of the Week awards this season, one for his offensive performance and another stemming from his defensive performance.

Statistically, Kemrer was far and away the conference’s top passer, tallying the most assists (699) and the most assists per set (10.59) overall.  In conference play, the 6-foot sophomore also ranked number one in both assists (97) and assists per set (9.7).  Kemrer recorded at least 30 assists on 14 occasions including six matches with at least 40 assists.  He registered a career-high 48 assists in a four-set victory against Augustana (IL) on Jan. 18.  Kemrer was also ranked sixth in digs with 112, 11th in digs per set with 1.70, ninth in aces with 18, and 15th in total blocks with 24.  Kemrer also earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team.

 

SUNY Potsdam opposite hitter/outside hitter Zaire Rogers (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) was named the NEAC Men’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year.  The Bears 5-foot-10 freshman ranked first overall in digs per set (2.51) and was second in digs (133).  In conference contests, Rogers was second in digs with 25 and fourth in digs per set with 2.08.  Rogers totaled at least eight digs on 11 occasions including a season-high 24 in a victory at Dean College on Feb. 21.  He added 12 total blocks (six solo) in 17 matches. In addition, Rogers was selected to the All-Conference Second Team. 

College of St. Elizabeth outside hitter Kodi Peters (Bergenfield, N.J.) and Rogers were honored as the NEAC Co-Rookies of the Year.  Peters led the Eagles with 103 kills with 2.78 kills per set on a .328 hitting percentage.  The 6-foot-1 freshman reached double digits in kills in six matches including a season-best 17 at King’s (Pa.) on Jan. 18.  Peters added 31 digs.

Rogers shared the honor after ranking first on his team and 10th in the conference overall in kills (124), first on his team and eighth in the NEAC in kills per set (2.34), and sixth in aces (22) and fourth in aces per set (0.42). Rogers added 38 assists (ranked 10th), 0.72 assists per set (11th), 155 points (10th) and 2.9 points per set (eighth). 

Wells College coach Jim Nichols was chosen as the NEAC Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year for the first time after leading the Express to a 18-4 record including 4-0 in NEAC play and a national ranking of 10th in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. 

The Express topped the conference in total kills with 974 and averaged the second most kills per set at 12.49.  Wells showed it was an all-around team, totaling a NEAC best 900 assists, 814 digs (10.44 digs per set) and 129 service aces (1.65 aces per set ranked second).  Wells also ranked second in hitting percentage (.238).  Nichols had four players selected to the All-Conference Teams including three on First Team and a Co-Player of the Year.

The complete 2020 NEAC Men’s Volleyball All-Conference Team is as follows:

 

NEAC Men’s Volleyball All-Conference Team

 

 

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has 12 NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Cazenovia College, College of Saint Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennsylvania State University – Abington, Pennsylvania State University – Berks, SUNY Cobleskill, Morrisville State, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and Wells College. Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (W Lacrosse), Hilbert College (M&W Lacrosse), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse), Rutgers University – Camden (M Golf), and Wilson College (M Volleyball). The NEAC has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sport of men’s tennis and with the Colonial State Athletic Conference in the sport of Field Hockey. For more information, please visit: www.neacsports.com.