Men’s Volleyball Picked As CVC Preseason Favorites

HUNTINGDON, PA- For the third consecutive year, the Juniata men’s volleyball team has been picked by the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) coaches as the 2015 preseason favorite to once again take the crown. Juniata received 36 total points, including six first-place votes, in the poll.

Juniata is the two-time defending CVC Champions and advanced to the Division III NCAA Championship match last year. The Eagles finished last season 29-5 overall to set a program record for wins and went 9-1 in the CVC.

Head coach Pat Shawaryn, who enters his first full season after stepping in mid-way through last year, brings back 12 players including five starters. The Eagles will be powered by a pair of All-Americans in Paul Kuhn (York, PA/Central York) and Joe Bortak (Jeanette, PA/Penn Trafford). Kuhn, a senior outside hitter and a First Team All-American, was the 2014 CVC Player of the Year after hitting .411 during conference play and averaging 2.64 kills per set during the season. Bortak, a senior middle blocker, was also named a First Team All-American after hitting .439 and ranking in the top 10 in total blocks in the CVC. Two-time CVC Tournament MVP Matt Elias (Lansdale, PA/North Penn), a junior setter, will run the offense once again after averaging 9.63 assists per set last year.

Last year’s runner-up, Stevenson, picked up one first place vote and came in second place with a total of 30 points. Rutgers University-Newark and Thiel College tied for third with each team receiving 22 total points. Newcomer Rutgers-Newark joins the CVC after previously competing in Division I Men's Volleyball as a member in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Marymount University was picked fifth in the poll with 18 total points. Eastern Mennonite University received 14 total points and was slotted sixth in the poll while Cairn University picked up six points to come in seventh.