Disrespecting the Game of Volleyball (Updated)

March 30, 2024

An unusual circumstance tonight on the volleyball that we would like to receive some feedback. It was senior night for Kean University and the team decided to send their lone senior off in a grand manner. After finishing their CVC conference season without a win after being beaten by Roanoke College, the Cougars decided to make a mockery of individual game statistics and only set their senior Ryan DeCandilo. The opponent, Penn State Schuylkill, is a first-year team in a developmental state, who have not won a set this season.

DeCandilo was set 86 times. He mustered 45 kills in the three sets. Both of these are NCAA all-time records. No other Kean team member received a set.

We have been a Bez Arslani fan for many years. The head coach was a former player at both NJCU and at Kean. He has been a record holder himself and now is a professional player for the NJ Freedom. The decision to support this senior night brainstorm does not add up.

In our opinion, an act like this is totally disrespectful to the record holders of the past. It spits in the face at the recordholders at Kean. Not to mention how it makes their opponent from Penn State feel.

What I am sure was thought up as a “fun” senior night activity, has layers of disrespect.

In men’s volleyball, unsportsmanlike conduct refers to actions that violate the sport’s generally accepted rules of sportsmanship and participant conduct. These actions can include behavior that provokes ill will, is demeaning to opponents, or tarnishes the image of the game. Remember that sportsmanship is a core value in NCAA competitions, and players are expected to uphold integrity and respect on the court.

IH will not present Ryan DeCandilo or his statistics in any future report on our site as we feel it is a disgusting fabrication and manipulation of statistics that is not in the best interest of the game of volleyball. We ask the NCAA to do the same.

What do you think? All comments welcome at insidehitter@gmail.com.

From the Kean website…

Coach Arslani was kind enough to issue a response to our article. We are including it here:

“I just wanted my senior to have a fun game and enjoy his last match wearing our Jersey. There was no game plan to only set Ryan, the boys took it upon themselves to give Ryan the game of his career. As a coach, I am ashamed I allowed something like this to happen. I should’ve put a stop to it. This is not the culture or attitude I am teaching my boys. I would like to apologize to everyone and the game if we made a mockery of it.  It’s the last thing I wanted to do.”