MVB AA AVCA (4-21)

Vaughan, Shankweiler and Smith Named AVCA All-Americans

4/21/2014 5:27:00 PM

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 21, 2014) – The American Volleyball Coaches Association released its Division III Men's Volleyball All-Americans today and three members of the Stevens Institute of Technology squad landed on either the first- or second-teams.

Stevens, ranked No. 5 in the AVCA Top 15 Poll, won its first round match in the NCAA Division III Championship at Baruch College on April 19 in four sets to advance to the quarterfinals where it will square off with No. 2 SUNY New Paltz. The quarterfinal match takes place on April 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa.

Fourteen student-athletes (28 total) were recognized on each of the two teams, while two others garnered honorable mention nods.

Sophomore Chris Vaughan (Medford, N.J.) became just the sixth player to be named First-Team All-American by the AVCA since 2006 and first since 2009. In just his second year as a member of the Ducks, Vaughan has established himself as one of the best in the competitive United Volleyball Conference. His 3.52 kills per set places him seventh in the conference while his team-leading 4.04 points per set has a lot to do with his 213 digs and 67 total blocks.

Junior Daniel Smith (Tucson, Ariz.) found a spot in this year's second-team after a stellar campaign in the middle for Stevens. Smith ranks in the top-10 nationally hitting at a .414 clip. Defensively, his 116 total blocks (1.09 per set) also puts him amongst the best in the country. The 6-4 middle also leads Stevens in service aces with 32.

This year's UVC Co-Rookie of the Year, freshman Gabe Shankweiler (Allentown, Pa.), continued to rack his is postseason honors with a second-team nod as an All-American. Shankweiler ranks second on the squad behind Vaughan in points (435.5), points per set (3.89), kills (382) and kills per set (3.41). The newcomer played a crucial role in Stevens' first round victory with the lone double-double of the match (14 kills, 11 digs).

The trio also ties the program record for most All-Americans in one season, matching the 2009 group that finished as the national runner-up.

2014 AVCA MEN'S DIVISION III FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
PlayerInstitutionPos.Yr.Ht.Hometown
Aaron AlmarioRivier UniversityMBSr.6'7Alhambra, CA
Joe BortakJuniata CollegeMBJr.6'7Jeannette, PA
Brendan ChangMass. Inst. Of TechnologyLSo.5'9Laytonsville, MD
Tim FerriterSUNY New PaltzOHSo.6'3Rochester, NY
Nick FerrySpringfield CollegeLSr.6'0Valencia, CA
Paul KuhnJuniata CollegeOHJr.6'7York, PA
Jack McKeeBaruch CollegeRSSr.6'6Bay Shore, NY
Jimmy O'LearySpringfield CollegeMBSr.6'6Reading, PA
Keaton PieperSpringfield CollegeSJr.6'4Dallas, TX
Christian SmithSUNY New PaltzSSo.6'5Massapequa, NY
Chris VaughanStevensOHSo.6'4Medford, NJ
Luis VegaSpringfield CollegeOHSo.6'0Corozal, Puerto Rico
Michael VellutatoElmira CollegeSSr.6'1Topanga, CA
Connor WexterCarthage CollegeSSr.6'1New Lenox, IL
 
2014 AVCA MEN'S DIVISION III SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
PlayerInstitutionPos.Yr.Ht.Hometown
Chad AlbertJuniata CollegeMBSo.6'5Cranberry Township, PA
Bez ArslaniKean UniversityOHJr.6'1Wayne, NJ
Trevor BarrettMedaille CollegeRSSr.Amherst, NY
Matt BynonRivier UniversityL/DSSr.5'9Burnt Hills, NY
Luke LawatschNazareth CollegeMBJr.6'5Penfield, NY
Alex McColginJuniata CollegeRSJr.6'4Buffalo, NY
Connor MortlandNew York UniversitySSr.6'5San Diego, CA
Alec RedlichLakeland CollegeOHJr.6'1Wauwatosa, WI
Gabe ShankweilerStevensOHFr.6'2Allentown, PA
Daniel SmithStevensMBJr.6'4Tucson, AZ
Jon StormCarthage CollegeOHJr.6'5Naperville, IL
Paul SytaMass. Inst. Of TechnologySSr.6'2Fairport, NY
J.P. TulakaCarthage CollegeMBSo.6'5Westmont, IL
Steven WoessnerSUNY New PaltzMBFr.6'5Massapequa Park, NY

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