In 2009, the men’s volleyball team posted a 22-13 record, improving their win total by 11 matches from the previous season. The Hawks finished 6-3 in the metro division and earned a bid into the 2009 NECVA Tournament as they #12 seed where they fell to fifth seeded Endicott in the first round.
First year middle hitter Kevin Stross (Port Washington/Schreiber) was named the 2009 NECVA Metro-Division Rookie of the Year and outside hitter Daniel Liberto (Rush/Rush-Henrietta) and middle hitter Jake Moore (Cortlandt Manor/ Hendrick Hudson) earned second team divisional honors.
Stross amassed 378 kills on 768 attempts and 100 errors for a .362 hitting percentage, ranking him 14th in Division III. He registered 105 blocks, 41 service aces and 61 digs in his rookie campaign. Liberto finished the season second in hitting percentage (.343), ranking him 22nd in the nation for Division III. He finished with 347 kills, 120 digs and 51 blocks. Moore led the Hawks in kills (382) and digs (273), ranking him fourth on the all-time season chart in each category. He hit .243% on the year to go with 52 service aces and 66 blocks. Moore’s average of .42 aces per game ranks him 26th in the nation.
Sophomore setter Andrew Cassius (Brooklyn/Midwood) finished the season with 1194 assists, ranking him second on the all-time season chart and his average of 10.47 helpers per contest ranks him 12th in the nation. Senior outside hitter Ryan Huberty (Liverpool) hit .251% on the season with 290 kills, 166 digs and 34 blocks. He finishes his career with 856 kills, placing him fifth on the all-time career chart. Huberty was named the Tournament MVP at the York Invitational as the Hawks went 4-0 on the weekend. Mark Blair (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) was third on the team in service aces with 39 and added 154 kills.
The SUNY New Paltz men’s volleyball team was ranked in the top 15 teams in the nation according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and spent a few weeks as #14 and #15. Before the Hawks broke into the national poll, they defeated then #4 Stevens and #14 Medialle at the Nazareth Tournament. On the year, New Paltz swept 15 of their opponents 3-0 in completion and had an eight match win streak at one point.
