Men's Volleyball Program Announces 2011 Season Award Winners
The Sage Colleges athletic department gathered last month at Carmela’s Banquet House to bestow the program’s top awards for the 2010-2011 academic year. Sage, which now boasts 12 varsity athletic teams that compete as an NCAA Division III member and a full-member of the Skyline Athletic Conference, handed out a Gator of the Year award as the team’s Most Valuable Player Award in each sport as well as other honors at the banquet as athletic department staff, the college’s dignitaries, families and friends gathered to salute the excellence that occurred in 2010-2011 at Sage.
2010-2011 Sage Male Athlete of the Year: Kyle Ray (So., Horseheads, NY/Horeseheads), Men’s Volleyball
As a freshman, Kyle Ray was one of six players to help launch the men’s volleyball program at Sage and was named a co-captain. By season’s end, he was named to the Skyline Conference All-Star Second Team for his play as an outside hitter. With the new season, Ray was once again named a captain, but also was asked to change positions and did so with ease. He helped the team improve from a 5-20 performance in the first season to a 14-12 record with a second-straight Skyline Conference Tournament bid. He led the team with his 692 setting assists and ranked among the national statistical leaders along the way. By season’s end, the sophomore setter ranked 27th in Division III in setting assists per set and 89th in aces per set with his 0.23 per set average. A member of the 2011 NECVA Scholar-Athlete Team, Ray played in all 26 matches for Sage this season while appearing in 86 sets with 89 digs and 20 aces.
2010-2011 Sage Athletic Honor Society:
(The Sage College’s Intercollegiate Athletic Honor Society recognizes junior, senior, or graduate level student-athletes, who have maintained a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.2 or better and have participated as a member of a varsity team for at least two seasons.)
Dustin Farrell (Sr., Port Kent, NY/AuSable Valley Central), Men’s Volleyball
*Indicates Previous Inductee
Gator of the Year: Spencer Hilland (Jr., Slingerlands,
NY/Bethlehem Central)
Spencer Hilland finished his season with Sage as a Skyline
Conference All-Star
First Team player as a middle hitter. He was also ranked nationally
in three categories, 14th in kills per set (3.75), 14th
in blocks per set (0.95), and 48th in hitting (.255
attack percentage). He was named to the Skyline Conference Honor
Roll once, and finished the season with a team-best 240 kills, good
enough for a 3.69 per set average with a .255 attack percentage. He
finished second on the team with 61 total blocks, while adding 102
digs and 14 serving aces. He led the Gators with his 296 points and
4.55 points per set average despite missing two weeks with an
injury on the season. He was named the Skyline Conference Player of
the Week and the NECVA Skyline Conference Player of the Week twice,
while also earning a spot on the Skyline Conference Honor Roll
another week. He opened his Sage career with a selection to the
2011 SUNY-IT Wildcat Invitational All-Tournament Team in
January.
Rookie of the Year: Matt Bynon (Fr., Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills)
A newcomer for the Gators, Matt Bynon was not only Sage’s Rookie of the Year, but was also selected by the Skyline Conference as the Rookie of the Year. The defensive specialist not only led the league, but the nation in digs with an average of 4.19 per game. Over the course of the season, he garnered Skyline Rookie of the Week honors on March 7 and NECVA Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week status the same week as well as an All-Tournament distinction at the Bard Invitational on February 25-26. He wraps 2011 with a team-best 373 digs, good enough for a 4.19 digs per set average. He added a .962 reception percentage on the season with 89 sets played in 26 matches.
Most Improved Player: Connor Thompson (Fr., Delmar, NY/Christian Brothers Academy)
Another newcomer to volleyball, Connor Thompson improved over the course of the season and by year’s end had earned Skyline Conference and NEVCA Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week honors for his play. The middle hitter racked up a team-best 74 blocks, good enough for a 0.86 blocks per set average. He played in 86 sets over the course of 25 matches and finished with 106 kills, 19 digs, and 153.5 points.
