Bynon headlines Sage volleyball team as national digs leader; Sage also amongst the top squads in final rankings
Albany, NY---- The 2011 men's volleyball season came to a close last week and the NCAA has released the final statistics for Division III.
Gator rookie libero Matt Bynon (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills) finished his first season with Sage as the national leader for Division III in digs. He had a team-high 373 digs, which was a 4.19 per set average. He played in 89 games through Sage's 2011 season. He earned Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year honors for his outstanding play.
Sage's junior middle hitter Spencer Hilland (Slingerlands, NY/Bethlehem Central) finished the season ranked nationally in three categories. He tallied 61 total blocks and averaged 0.95 per set, which ranked 14th. He was also ranked 14th in kills per set with his 3.75 per set average. Named to the 2011 Skyline Conference All-Star First Team, Hilland and ranked 48th in Division III in hitting with a .255 attack percentage. He had 240 kills with 102 digs and tallied a team-best 296 points on the season to average 4.55 per set.
Sophomore setter Kyle Ray (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) is also among the national leaders as he had 692 setting assists, good enough for an 8.05 per set average, which is 27th in nation. He also ranked 89th in aces per set after leading Sage with 20 aces, a 0.23 per set average. He earned back to back selections to the Skyline Conference All-Star Second Team this season, while also earning a citation from NECVA as a member of the 2011 Scholar-Athlete Team.
Rookie opposite Ryan Wilkins (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) finished the season ranked 27th in hitting percentage with a.286 average. He also ranked 91st in blocks per set with a 0.56 per set average. He had 170 kills with 64 digs, 39 total blocks on the season in 21 matches played. He also ranked 67th nationally with his 2.43 kills per set average and earned a spot on the 2011 Skyline Conference All-Star First Team.
Sage's rookie middle hitter Connor Thompson (Delmar, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) finished the season ranked 24th nationally with his 0.86 per set average. He played in 25 matches and 86 games for the Gators, while tallying 106 kills with a team-best 74 total blocks.
As a team, Sage was also among the national statistical leaders for Division III for the season. Sage ranked eighth nationally in blocks with a 2.23 per set average after combining for 86 solo blocks and 230 block assists. The Gators also ranked 21st in win percentage after a 14-12 record, a feat even more impressive since the team is only a second-year varsity program. Sage ranked 23rd in team hitting percentage (.204), 25th in digs per set (9.59), 27th in kills per set (10.6), 27th in assists per set (9.7), and 30th in aces per set (1.18).
For the season, Sage's second-year head coach Andy Smith earned acclaim as the Skyline Conference Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year, while producing the league's Rookie of the Year, two NECVA Scholar-Athletes and four Skyline Conference All-Stars.
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