HUNTINGDON, PA- Coming off their most successful season in program history that saw them win 29 matches last season and advance to the NCAA Championship match, the Juniata men's volleyball team will look to return to the national spotlight in 2015. While the team fell short of its goal in 2014, the Eagles know they have the talent to win it all.
"Last year was a great run by a very solid team with great senior leadership," said head coach Pat Shawaryn. "A lot of the core group from last year had been playing together for two and three years. It's a new team now. The guys are hungry because they know they were really close last year. This year they know they are right there, they just now have to perform and execute."
Shawaryn took over the head coaching duties on an interim basis on March 6 and steered the Eagles to a 13-2 record, a second consecutive Continental Volleyball Conference championship along with a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance, and four consecutive weeks in the Top 15 poll. He was officially named head coach in June.
As for how he approaches his first full season at the helm, Shawaryn said "I don't want the guys to see me frustrated, nervous or anxious. I want them to know there is a calm, even keel. I'm going to keep trying to do the same thing I was doing last year with the team."
Returners
Despite the loss of three seniors from last season, the Eagles return a strong core of seniors in Paul Kuhn (York, PA/Central York) and Joe Bortak (Jeanette, PA/Penn Trafford) and juniors Matt Elias (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) and Chad Albert (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley).
The defending CVC Player of the Year and a member of the All-CVC East team, Kuhn was among the team leaders in 2014 with a 2.08 kills per game average and was second in the CVC with 39 aces. Kuhn also had a strong defensive presence as he was fourth on the Eagles in digs with 90. He was also was named an ECAC First Team All-Star and an AVCA First-Team All-American. His solid play in last year's NCAA Tournament landed him on the All-Tournament Team.
"He's a coach's dream come true," said Shawaryn. "He works his tail on and off the court. He's an amazing student and listens extremely well. He is one of those players that comes around once every few years."
Bortak was second in the nation with a .439 attack percentage and was among the nation's top 20 with a 1.00 block per game average. The senior also earned AVCA First-Team All-American honors last year for the third straight season. In addition, Bortak was selected to the CVC All-Tournament Team, the All-CVC East Team, and an ECAC Second Team All-Star. "Joe is a rock for the team," noted Shawaryn. "He shows emotion when it is needed."
Elias was among the CVC and national leaders last season with a 9.63 assists per game average. He also was named the 2014 CVC Tournament MVP as Juniata won the conference title en route to reaching the NCAA Tournament championship match.
"Matt is a great player," remarked Shawaryn. "He's got a lot to prove and wants everyone to know where he stands as an individual. For him, he would rather see the team do well. Matt is not selfish and puts the team first and wants the guys to succeed."
Albert finished last season fifth in the nation with a 1.15 blocks per game average, including having 24 solo blocks. The junior also was an AVCA Second-Team All-American selection in 2014, named to the CVC All-Tournament Team and an All-CVC East Team selection along with being an ECAC Second Team All-Star.
"Chad is a freak athlete," said Shawaryn. "He is so fast and moves so well. He's got a whip for a cannon on that arm. He reads everything so well."
Newcomers
Four freshmen join the team in 2015. "The first thing they have to understand is there are guys that have put in time ahead of them," Shawaryn stated. "Two to three are helping a lot more than anticipated. The guys know they have to keep competing day in and day out."
Schedule
Besides a very competitive CVC schedule the Eagles will also go up against nationally ranked opponents. #10 Elmira and #13 Baruch come to Memorial Gymnasium this weekend. Juniata will head on the road to face #5 Carthage (1/31), #6 Kean (2/6), and #2 Stevens (2/7). Also on the docket is a date with Division I Princeton on March 6.
"I think we have a great schedule," said Shawaryn. "Our conference is getting better. Rutgers-Newark is going to be good. Thiel has almost their whole team back. They can play a real good wildcard. I feel we are one of the stronger conferences, maybe not the strongest but we are pretty good. The first three weeks of the season we are running the gauntlet. Elmira and Baruch are going to be heavy hitters. Hilbert and Hunter you can't look past them. We will know a lot about ourselves and the team after the first few weeks."
