Lexington, KY -- For the first time in its six-year history, Elmira College men's volleyball will have a player earn back-to-back American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American honors. Fourth-year talent
Erik Griffin '16 was voted as an AVCA First-Team All-American, as announced by the national office earlier this morning.
Griffin becomes the second player in Elmira's short history to take home first-team honors, joining former teammate Michael Vellutato '14, who earned the accolade in his senior year as well. However, Griffin one-upped Vellutato by becoming Elmira's first two-time AVCA All-American in program history, after earning second-team honors a season ago.
"I am super happy for Erik on this well-deserved honor," said Head Coach
Stephen England. "He's one of the most hard working and talented players to come through our program. Erik is our first two-time All-American in school history, which really says something about his hard work on and off the court. I'm just really proud to have had him as part of this program."
England shares his thoughts on Griffin joining Vellutato as the only two AVCA First-Team All-Americans in program history. "Both guys made everyone around them better. They are true leaders and the type of guys we want at Elmira College. Those two guys have put this program in the national spotlight year-in and year-out. I am really happy to have had the opportunity to coach both players."
Griffin capped his senior season with a conference-leading 405 kills, as well as a UVC-best 4.26 kills per set average, which ranks second in the nation. He ended the season on a 19-match double-digit kill streak, which included six 20-plus kill efforts, as well as a 32-kill performance against Cal Lutheran on February 20th. The 19 straight matches brought his career double-digit kill total to 85, making him Elmira's all-time leader in that statistical category.
He will most certainly go down in EC history as one of the all-time greats, as his name can be found amongst the program leaders in several statistical categories. He is first in program history in kills (1,539) and kills per set (3.71), while he wrapped up his four-year career as the program's fourth all-time leader in aces (106), digs (669), and blocks (212).
2016 AVCA MEN'S DIVISION III FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
| First Name |
Last Name |
University |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| Tim |
Ferriter*^# |
Stevens Institute of Technology |
OH |
Sr. |
Rochester, N.Y. |
| Andy |
Fishman |
SUNY New Paltz |
OH |
Sr. |
Cronwallville, N.Y. |
| Luis |
Garcia Rubio |
Springfield College |
S |
Jr. |
Bayamon, Puerto Rico |
| Erik |
Griffin! |
Elmira College |
OH |
Sr. |
Victor, N.Y. |
| Marc |
Hansen |
Carthage College |
L |
Jr. |
Oak Lawn, Ill. |
| Christopher |
Husmann* |
SUNY New Paltz |
MB |
Sr. |
Massapequa, N.Y. |
| Matthew |
Knigge |
Vassar College |
MB |
So. |
New Egypt, N.J. |
| Lake |
Merchen |
UC Santa Cruz |
OH |
So. |
Clovis, Calif. |
| Griffin |
Shields! |
Carthage College |
RS |
Jr. |
Naperville, Ill. |
| Christian |
Smith*^ |
SUNY New Paltz |
S |
Sr. |
Massapequa, N.Y. |
| J.P. |
Tulacka$ |
Carthage College |
MB |
Sr. |
Westmont, Ill. |
| Luis |
Vega^ |
Springfield College |
OH |
Jr. |
Corozal, Puerto Rico |
| Steven |
Woessner$ |
SUNY New Paltz |
MB |
Jr. |
Massapequa Park, N.Y. |
| Tim |
Zyburt*% |
Nazareth College |
OH |
Sr. |
Wheaton, Ill. |
2016 AVCA MEN'S DIVISION III SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
| First Name |
Last Name |
University |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| Cody |
Chidsey! |
Rutgers University-Newark |
MB |
Sr. |
Bath, Pa. |
| Will |
Craft |
Carthage College |
OH |
Sr. |
Crete, Ill. |
| Jack |
Fredricks |
Rutgers University-Newark |
OH |
Jr. |
East Brunswick, N.J. |
| Jacob |
Kauffman |
Kean University |
OH |
So. |
York, Pa. |
| Tom |
Keisling |
Nazareth College |
L |
Jr. |
Sewickley, Pa. |
| Tomasz |
Ksiazkiewicz |
Marymount University |
MB |
Jr. |
Krakow, Poland |
| Ricardo |
Padilla Ayala* |
Springfield College |
OH |
So. |
San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Alex |
Potts |
Wentworth Institute of Technology |
MB |
Jr. |
Niverville, N.Y. |
| Matt |
Reinsel |
Carthage College |
S |
Fr. |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Tommy |
Rosario |
Kean University |
MB |
Sr. |
Belleville, N.J. |
| Kyle |
Seeley |
Juniata College |
RS |
Jr. |
Ellicott City, Md. |
| Chris |
Vaughan^ |
Stevens Institute of Technology |
OH |
Sr. |
Medford, N.J. |
| Julian |
Welsh-White |
Springfield College |
MB |
Sr. |
Collingswood, N.J. |
| Rob |
Wingert |
Stevenson University |
S |
Sr. |
Hanover Township, Pa. |
2016 AVCA MEN'S DIVISION III HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICA
| First Name |
Last Name |
University |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| Nate |
Ellis |
Stevenson University |
MB |
Jr. |
York, Pa. |
| Kevin |
McCandless |
Rutgers University-Newark |
S |
Sr. |
Leesburg, Va. |
| Kevin |
Nardone |
SUNY New Paltz |
L |
Sr. |
Port Washington, N.Y. |
| Gabe |
Shankweiler |
Stevens Institute of Technology |
OH |
Jr. |
Allentown, Pa. |
| Alex |
Vohland |
Mount St. Joseph University |
OH |
Jr. |
West Chester, Ohio |
Legend
* - 2015 AVCA Division III Men's First-Team All-America selection
! - 2015 AVCA Division III Men's Second-Team All-America selection
^ - 2014 AVCA Division III Men's First-Team All-America selection
$ - 2014 AVCA Division III Men's Second-Team All-America selection
# - 2013 AVCA Division III Men's First-Team All-America selection
% - 2013 AVCA Division III Men's Second-Team All-America selection
