Riverdale, N.Y. – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Men's Volleyball team will open the Michael Quinn era on Thursday night when it hosts Lehman in the 2012 season opener at the Peter Jay Sharp Center. The Dolphins and Lightning will square off starting at 6:00 p.m.
The Dolphins closed out the 2011 season with a 17-6 overall mark and an 8-2 record in Skyline Conference play. The Mount lost three players from a season ago, including First Team All-League selections
David Guerrero and Quinn.
Guerrero finished his career with 1,233 kills and was the team leader in 2011 in kills with 351 and service aces with 45. Quinn rounded out his four year career with 2,575 assists, including a team-high 748 in 2011.
Mount Saint Vincent returns a strong core of players from last season, including First Team All-Skyline selection
Chris Bacchi (Hicksville, N.Y.) and Second Team All-League selection
Mark Sargente (Commack, N.Y.). Also returning are
Michael Sin (Hicksville, N.Y.) and
Joe Ecock (Brooklyn, N.Y.).
Bacchi is back as the top returner in kills after posting 236 as a junior. He also totaled 35 service aces, 218 digs and 17 total blocks. Sargente also had a strong campaign after totaling 97 kills, 116 digs and 33 total blocks in his first season with the Dolphins.
In his first full season with Mount Saint Vincent Ecock led the team in total blocks with 42 and also contributed 93 kills and 83 digs. Sin paced the squad in defensive digs during the 2011 season with 260, good for 3.16 per set.
Quinn, in his first season at the helm, will also look for immediate contributions from a strong group of newcomers that includes Rob Powell (Hempstead, N.Y.),
James DiGiovanni (Bay Shore, N.Y.),
Brett Holiday (Stratford, N.J.),
Roosevelt Castillo (Bronx, N.Y.) and
James Goldberg (Rockaway Beach, N.Y.).
The Dolphins finished last season as the national leader in digs per set at 13.20 and also had a pair of players named to the NECVA All-Academic Team. As a unit, the Dolphins were one of four men's teams in the country to receive the American Volleyball Coaches' Association Academic Award.
After opening the season with Lehman on Thursday, the Dolphins will jump right into Skyline Conference play when they take on Sage and Purchase in Troy, N.Y. on Sunday, February 29 starting at 12:00 p.m.
