First year middle hitter Kevin Stross (Port Washington/Schreiber) has been 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 is a two-time NECVA-rookie of the week (2/9 and 2/16) and three-time metro division rookie of the week (2/9, 2/16, and 3/9). He was named to the NJCU All-Tournament team and the Nazareth All-Tournament team. On the season, Stross amassed 369 kills on 749 attempts and 94 errors for a .367 hitting percentage, ranking him 12th in Division III. He registered 104 total blocks, 41 service aces and 61 digs. He currently ranks fifth for most kills in a season at New Paltz.
Liberto stands second on the team in hitting percentage with a .342, ranking him 23rd in the nation for Division III. He finished the regular season with 338 kills, 119 digs and 51 blocks. This is his first NECVA division honor.
Moore earns All-Metro honors for the first time in his career as he led the Hawks in kills (375) and digs (268), ranking him fourth on the all-time season chart in both categories. He hit .242% on the season to go with 52 service aces and 65 blocks. Moore’s average of .43 aces per game ranks him 24th in the nation for Division III.
Other Hawks who were ranked nationally include sophomore setter Andrew Cassius (Brooklyn/Midwood) who is 12th is assists per game with 10.49.
New Paltz (22-12) will compete in the NECVA tournament on Friday at 6pm when they face #11 Endicott (20-11) at MIT.
