Wiechecki Headlines Group of CVC on ECAC South Team

Wiechecki Headlines Group of CVC on ECAC South Team

TJ Wiechecki headlines a group of five players from the Continental Volleyball Conference that were named to the 2017 Eastern College Athletic Conference All-South Team. Wiechecki, from Marymount University, earned First Team honors to go along with his South Offensive Player of the Year award. Joining him on the South team were teammates Erich Bratke (First Team) and Tomasz Ksiazkiewicz (Honorable Mention). In addition, Landon Shorts (First Team) and Nate Ellis (Honorable Mention) also received All-ECAC honors. 

Below is the official release from the ECAC:

TJ Wiechecki from Marymount University was selected as the ECAC Division III South Men's Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year, while Penn State Altoona's Wally Rivera-Berrios secured the top defensive honor. Austin Braas from Arcadia University garnered the Rookie of the Year accolade and Charlie Ginex from Kean University collected the Coach of the Year award to round out the major honors.

Wiechecki receives the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year award after being named the Continental Volleyball Conference Player of the Week on three occasions as well as ECAC South Player of the Week twice. In 28 matches, Wiechecki ranks third in the nation in kills per set (4.42) and fourth in points per set (5.10). The junior posted double-digit kills in all but seven of the 28 matches he played in, registering 30-plus kills on three occasions. He guided the fourth-year Marymount program to a regular-season conference championship as well as the highest ranking in program history (No. 8) by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

Rivera-Berrios garners the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year honor after being named the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Defensive Player of the Week on six occasions in addition to ECAC Player of the Week twice. Through 30 matches during the regular season and conference tournament, Rivera-Berrios recorded 463 digs (4.33 digs per set), enough to rank him first in the NCAA Division III in both digs and digs per set. The sophomore's defensive efforts helped the Lions capture the NEAC title and earn a place in the 2017 NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship.

Braas is honored as the ECAC Rookie of the Year after establishing himself as a key piece of the Arcadia attack in 2017. The freshman middle blocker appeared in 29 of 30 matches for the Knights in their inaugural varsity campaign, posting double-digit kills in eight of those outings. Braas finished the season ranked second on the team in most offensive categories, including points (295.5), points per set (3.05), kills (217), kill per set (2.24), and attack percentage (.335).

Ginex's award comes after he was named the Skyline Coach of the Year. In his fourth year at the helm, he led Kean to a 26-8 record, the school's fourth consecutive Skyline Conference title and sixth consecutive NCAA appearance. Ginex also helped junior Jacob Kauffman earn conference player of the year honors while placing four student-athletes on Skyline All-Conference Teams (two first team, two second team).
 
Offensive Player of the Year
TJ Wiechecki – Marymount University, Jr.
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Wally Rivera-Berrios – Penn State Altoona, So.
 
Rookie of the Year
Austin Braas – Arcadia University, Fr.
 
Coach of the Year
Charlie Ginex – Kean University
 
All-ECAC First Team
Jacob Kauffman – Kean University, Jr.
Landon Shorts – Stevenson University, So.
Gabe Shankweiler – Stevens Institute of Technology, Sr.
TJ Wiechecki – Marymount University, Jr.
Trenton Munk – Penn State Behrend, Sr.
Erich Bratke – Marymount University, Jr.
Wally Rivera-Berrios – Penn State Altoona, So.
 
All-ECAC Honorable Mention
Austin Braas – Arcadia University, Fr.
Jason Manley – Arcadia University, Fr.
Nate Ellis – Stevenson University, Sr.
Justin Feigeles – Ramapo College, Jr.
Tomas Ksiazkiewicz – Marymount University, Sr.


ABOUT THE ECAC
In the 77 years since its inception, the ECAC has emerged as the nation's largest Conference, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In 2015-16, the ECAC hosted nearly 100 championships in men's and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 student-athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.