Cole Named POTY; Biggers, Curaro and Flohr on Skyline MVB All-Conf. Teams
New York, NY| Senior Matt Cole was named Player of the Year and joined classmates Kyle Biggers and Paul Curaro on the All-Conference First-Team when the Skylie Conference released its end-of-season men's volleyball awards on Monday morning.
In addition, senior Will Flohr graced the All-Conference Second-Team while junior Jack Solen was an All-Sportsmanship Team selection.
Cole, an All-Conference honoree for the first time in his career, earned Player of the Year honors on the back of a balanced 19-match season for the Golden Eagles. The middle-blocker-turned-outside-hitter finished second on the team in total kills (169) and kills-per-set (2.64) and was third in hitting percentage (.280).
Biggers, a two-time Player of the Year (2018, 2019), graces the First-Team for the fourth-straight season after posting a team-best hitting percentage of .359; good for third in the conference. The middle blocker put down 113 kills at a 1.81 kills-per-set rate and was second on the team with 27 total blocks.
Curaro led SJC in total kills (176), kills-per-set (2.89), service aces (27), and total points (209.0) and was second in total digs (113) and digs-per-set (1.85). The outside hitter returns to the First-Team for the third-straight season after earning Second-Team honors as a freshman in 2017.
A First-Team selection in 2018 and 2019, Flohr landed on the Second-Team in 2020 having split time between the positions of libero and outside hitter. The senior led the conference in total digs (201) and digs-per-set (3.14) while putting down 94 kills at a 1.47 kills-per-set pace.
In a shortened 19-game season, SJC posted a 12-7 overall record and a 2-1 mark in Skyline play. On February 12, the Golden Eagles held off Division I St. Francis (Brooklyn) for a five-set victory. They wrapped the season with a 3-0 sweep of New Jersey City University on April 4.
2020 Skyline Conference Men's Volleyball All-Conference Team
First Team
Jonathan Andrews, New Jersey City (Jr., OH; No. Bergen, N.J.)
Kyle Biggers, St. Joseph's-Long Island (Sr., MB; Holbrook, N.Y.)
Conor Charlow, Ramapo (Jr., MB; Towson, Md.)
Matt Cole, St. Joseph's-Long Island (Sr., MB/OH; Holbrook, N.Y.)
Paul Curaro, St. Joseph's-Long Island (Sr., OH; Holbrook, N.Y.)
Brandon DaSilva, New Jersey City (Fr., MB; Kearny, N.J.)
Tyler Plitt, Ramapo (So., L; Manorville, N.Y.)
Josh Titus, Ramapo (So., S; Mechanicsburg, Pa.)
Second Team
Yosef Ajami, Yeshiva (Sr., MB/OH; Brooklyn, N.Y.)
J.J. Berdecia, New Jersey City (Sr., L; W. New York, N.J.)
Leo Ferrari, New Jersey City (So., S; Kearny, N.J.)
Will Flohr, St. Joseph's-Long Island (Sr., OH; Lindenhurst, N.Y.)
Stephen Eddy, St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (Sr., OH; Glendale, N.Y.)
Dejon St. Rose-Cuffy, St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (Jr., MB; Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Eric Van Thuyne, Ramapo (Sr., OH; Newtown, Pa.)
Player of the Year: Matt Cole, St. Joseph's-Long Island
Rookie of the Year: Brandon DaSilva, New Jersey City
Coach of the Year: Mike Hrehovcik, Ramapo (fourth season)
All-Sportsmanship Team
Jeremy Gonzalez, Mount Saint Vincent
J.J. Berdecia, New Jersey City
Chris Posillico, Purchase
Stephen Codispodo, Ramapo
Stephen Eddy, St. Joseph's-Brooklyn
Jack Solen, St. Joseph's-Long Island
Ithai Diakov, Sarah Lawrence
Derek Orenshein, Yeshiva
