By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College men's volleyball made its 25th year a memorable one. The Eagles (29-5, 9-1 CVC) played for a national championship, won their second consecutive Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) title, set program records for most wins and fewest losses, had the most All-America selections since 2007, and finished the 2014 season ranked second in the nation.
"It was a lot of roller coaster rides, up and down battles," said head coach Pat Shawaryn. "The guys came together when it was needed. There were multiple points in the season where we could have put our heads down. They came together and found a way to win."
Shawaryn took the helm mid-way through the 2014 season. His first match as head coach was in a 3-2 grudge match win at No. 15 Stevenson (March 7). Under him, the Eagles closed the year on a 13-2 run and spent four consecutive weeks ranked No. 1 in the country, the longest streak since 2010. Juniata finished the year ranked top 20 nationally in all but one category and led the CVC in blocks per set, hitting percentage and match win-loss percentage.
Four Eagles earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honors. Juniors Joe Bortak (Jeannette, Pa./Penn Trafford) and Paul Kuhn (York, Pa./Central York) were named first teamers, while redshirt junior Alex McColgin (Buffalo, N.Y./Hamburg) and sophomore Chad Albert (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) were placed on second team. It marked Bortak's third All-America nod and Kuhn's second. The selection was the first of McColgin and Albert's careers. The foursome also earned all-conference and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) All-Star honors. Kuhn was named CVC Player of the Year, continuing the tradition of Eagles being named conference players of the year. Juniata has earned top honors all three years in the CVC.
Juniata grabbed five player of the week awards as well. Junior Mark Feiler (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) along with Kuhn and McColgin earned CVC player of the week honors. Kuhn was named AVCA national player of the week (January 28) and junior Matt Elias (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) claimed one of the last ECAC player of the week nods.
"They play a very big part of what we do," Shawaryn said of the group. "With Joe and Chad controlling the net, with Elias distributing the ball where it was needed, with Paul and Alex so dynamic and aggressive, not just at the service line, but at the net, it was a complete team effort. We've been preaching six as one. Six working as one. Not one working as six."
Juniata started the year on a 10-match win streak against NCAA Division III opponents. After dropping a tough match to Lakeland College, 3-1, on February 9, they rebounded and won the next five before then No. 1 SUNY New Paltz handed the Eagles their first 3-0 loss of the season (March 1). They then went on to win nine of their last 10 regular season matches and headed into the CVC tournament as the number two seed in the east.
The Eagles dominated in the tournament, topping Dominican University 3-1 in the quarterfinals before rolling No. 4 Carthage and No. 13 Stevenson 3-0 to repeat as league champions. The win secured the Eagles berth into the 2014 NCAA Division III men's volleyball tournament and a chance to play at home again as Juniata hosted the national championship.
"It was awesome," Shawaryn said of playing in front of a home crowd during the national tournament. "It was unbelievable. Our fans were beyond supportive. The president was waiving the flag in the stands at one point."
In front of season-high crowds, Juniata outlasted No. 9 Kean 3-2 to earn a chance at redemption against No. 2 SUNY New Paltz in the national semifinal. The Eagles dropped the first set, but came back and won the next three to advance to their first NCAA National Championship match. It was Juniata's eighth time playing for a national championship and second against Springfield College. They came out battling but could not upend the defending national champion and fell 3-0.
"Very proud of them," added Shawaryn of the team. "We could have felt bad for ourselves, but they didn't. I'm excited about next year and what this team can do. I think they got a taste of what it takes, and hopefully they can take that next step."
Top Moments
Upsetting Nazareth on the Road
Juniata has a long standing rivalry with Nazareth College. So when the Eagles erased a two-set deficit to come back and win 3-2 on the road at then No. 2 Nazareth back on February 1, the feeling was indescribable. The win came after another comeback win over a top five team earlier in the day and improved the Eagles record to 7-1.
Senior Day
Flash forward to the last home match of the regular season and to senior day. Juniata dominated Cairn University 3-0 on April 5 to improve to 24-2 overall and the Eagles celebrated the hard work of their seniors. Along with McColgin, Ross Madden (Richmond, Va./Deep Run), Ben Krouse (Holland, Pa./Council Rock), and manager Matt Johann were honored. Krouse was named the team's most valuable player.
"Couldn't ask for a better group of senior leaders," Shawaryn said. "It will be weird not seeing them next year."
The CVC Tournament
After finishing the regular season 9-1 in CVC action, the Eagles went into the conference tournament seeded second in the East Division, setting up a long first day in the postseason. They defeated Dominican in the morning and faced No. 4 Carthage in the semifinals that evening. Juniata won set one 25-21 but was trailing most of the second. Down 14-11, they mounted their comeback. The set was tied 10 times before Juniata took the lead 24-23 and came away with the win 25-23 win. They used the momentum to propel them to a 25-18 win in set three and their second consecutive CVC final.
Juniata face No. 13 Stevenson in the championship match, a team that had just handed the Eagles their lone conference loss just two weeks prior. Fueled by a desire to avenge the loss, defend their 2013 title and earn a berth to the NCAA Championships on their home court, Juniata dominated the Mustangs. They outscored Stevenson by an average of 25-14 and sided-out a perfect 11-for-11 times in set three. A true team effort, every hitter in their 5-1 offense finished between 5-8 kills as the team hit .324 collectively.
Advancing to NCAA National Championship
In front of one of the largest home crowds the Eagles saw during 2014, they outlasted No. 2 SUNY New Paltz 3-1 in the national semifinals to earn their first NCAA Division III finals appearance. Juniata dropped the first set 25-18, then rebounded in set two by hitting out of the gym with a team .526 average to tie the match up 1-1. Neither team led by more than two points until the Eagles began pulling away at 17-14 in set three. They went on to win 25-19 and survived the fourth set grudge match of seven ties and four lead changes to earn the 25-22 win.
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