New York University (NYU)

NYU Season Outlook

NYU Season Outlook

Matches with Juniata College, Stevens Institute of Technology and Springfield College, the top three Division III teams nationally in 2009, as well as matches with Division I foes Princeton University, St. Francis University, Harvard University, and Rutgers University-Newark, highlight the 2010 season for the New York University men's volleyball team.

The Violets, members of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Hay Division, finished the 2009 season with a 10-20 overall (4-4 EIVA Hay) record. In what was largely a rebuilding year, NYU went through some growing pains during the first half of its schedule.

However, things began to click as the season progressed and the Violets ended on a high note, winning four of their last five matches.  And, in the final 2009 Bison/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Men's Coaches Top 15 Poll, NYU was ranked sixth nationally.

This season, NYU will have to make up for the graduation loss of senior captain Devin Zolnowski, who was named AVCA Division III First Team All-American, Second Team EIVA All-East and an EIVA Division III All-Star. Zolnowski also became the first Violet in school history to surpass 600 kills in a season.

Despite the loss of its best player, the 2010 squad still has plenty of returning strength. The team will be led by quad-captains Fran Hodgson, Michael Ferragonio, Ori Oren, and Jay Hayes. Ferragonio, a senior, led the team in service aces (24) while finishing second in kills in 2009 (310). Oren, a junior, was third on the team in set assists (103). Hayes, a sophomore, led all Violets with 253 digs, while Hodgson was #1 with 121 total blocks.

This season, in addition to playing the top three teams of 2009, the Violets will also face Vassar College (#7 in 2009) and top-tier Division III competition at the Carthage Invitational.

Head coach Jose Pina, who enters his 17^th season as head coach of the Violets, believes there's cause for optimism in 2010.

"With the very solid group of recruits we were able to bring in for the 2010 season and the returning upperclassmen, we should be able to return to the top echelon of our league and Division III," Pina said. "Our goals are simple. We want to qualify for the two post season opportunities available to us, the EIVA Conference playoffs and the D-III Molten National Invitational."

Pina and the Violets will open their season on Jan. 12, at St. Francis in Loretto, PA. EIVA Hay competition will begin on Jan. 27 when the Violets host Rutgers-Newark.

"The first full month of our season will be the key to what we become as a team and of fulfilling the chance of meeting our goals for 2010," Pina explained. "I believe that the combination of some key returning starters with a few key freshmen, and a tough early schedule, will show how ready we are for our in-conference and our D-III competition.  We are a very young team, with only one senior and three juniors, but with sufficient talent to qualify for the conference playoffs and be right in the hunt for the D-III Molten National Invitational."