Five from Wells College Named Men’s Volleyball All-Conference

The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) announced its selections for the 2020 Men's Volleyball All-Conference Teams on Wednesday, April 8, honoring the top 12 players as voted on by the league's coaches with five from Wells College named all-conference.

Regardless of position, the first and second teams were comprised of six players each. The conference also revealed the individual award winners as voted on by the conference coaches. Among Wells' five selections were four players and one coach.

Wells College right side hitter Robert Patzer and Lancaster Bible setter Reuben Kemrer were selected as the NEAC Men's Volleyball Co-Players of the Year. Each were bestowed with the honor for the first time. Both players were instrumental in leading their respective teams to recognition nationally in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll with Wells College (18-4) slotted 10th among Division III men's volleyball programs. Both teams were 4-0 in conference play. 

Patzer ranked among the top five overall among NEAC players in 10 categories including kills (243), kills-per-set (3.33), total attacks (540), hitting percentage (.276), aces (23), digs (139), digs-per-set (1.90), points (287), points-per-set (3.9), and matches (21). The 6-foot-6 junior was first in kills, kills-per-set, digs, points, points-per-set and matches. Patzer registered double-digit kills on 10 occasions including 20 kills in a victory at Penn State Behrend on Feb. 2 and also against Daemen on Feb. 14. Displaying versatility, Patzer recorded at least eight digs in eight matches and earned two NEAC Player of the Week awards this season, one for his offensive performance and another stemming from his defensive performance.

Wells College coach Jim Nichols was chosen as the NEAC Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year for the first time after leading the Express to an 18-4 record including 4-0 in NEAC play and a national ranking of 10th in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. The Express appeared as a top-10 team in every AVCA poll this season and one of only five teams nationally to accomplish that feat.

The Express topped the conference in total kills with 974 and averaged the second most kills per set at 12.49. Wells showed it was an all-around team, totaling a NEAC best 900 assists, 814 digs (10.44 digs per set) and 129 service aces (1.65 aces per set ranked second). Wells also ranked second in hitting percentage (.238). Nichols had four players selected to the all-conference teams including three on first team and a co-player of the year.

Joining Patzer on the NEAC first team was Caden O'Loughlin and Justin Williams, while Josh Undari was selected to the All-NEAC Second team. Each Express player that was selected to either the first or second teams finished either first or second in at least one of the eight individual featured categories listed on the NEAC site with four leaders and two runners-up.

Wells College outside hitter Caden O'Loughlin finished in the top-five in eight NEAC categories. The senior was first in total attacks with 549 and matches (21), second in kills with 219, second in service aces with 28, second in points with 254.5, third in kills-per-set with 3.00, fourth in points-per-set with 3.5, and fifth in digs with 119. O'Loughlin was twice named NEAC player of the week during the season.

Wells College middle hitter Justin Williams finished in the NEAC top-five in a half-dozen categories with the top hitting percentage at .364, as well as having the most matches (21). The junior was second in solo blocks with 12, fourth in total blocks with 46, fifth in kills with 162 and fifth in points with 196. Like Patzer, Williams received a pair of NEAC player of the week honors with one for player of the week and the other for defensive player of the week.

Wells College setter Josh Undari finished runner-up in two categories. The senior was second in assists with 612 and second in assists-per-set with 8.5, as well as joining his teammates with the most matches at 21.

The complete 2020 NEAC Men's Volleyball All-Conference Team is as follows:

NEAC Men's Volleyball All-Conference Team