January 26, 2025
We wanted to start our Sunday blog with some recent coaches’ accolades. We are always trying to highlight player and coach achievements so make sure to send us information if school records are broken or certain achievements of note are accomplished. Use IG or email us at insidehitter@gmail.com.
NYU Head Coach Jose Pina earned his 425th career win for the Violets. Pina has served as NYU’s men’s volleyball head coach since 1993-94, accumulating a 425-363 (.539) record over 33 seasons at his alma mater. Under his leadership, NYU has captured two UVC Championships (2017, 2024), made two NCAA Division III Tournament appearances including a Final Four run in 2024, and won two Molten Division III Championships (2000, 2002). Pina has been named AVCA National Coach of the Year (2020) and UVC Coach of the Year twice (2012, 2020), while developing 25 AVCA All-Americans. A former NYU club volleyball player and team captain who graduated with an economics degree in 1987, Pina has helped build NYU into one of the nation’s top programs while emphasizing both athletic and academic excellence.
Stevens Head Coach Dan Buehring earned his 200th career win. Buehring has led Stevens men’s volleyball to remarkable success since becoming head coach in 2021, including a 2023 NCAA Division III National Championship and a program-record 35 wins. Prior to Stevens, he built Benedictine University’s program from scratch in 2014, compiling an 89-47 record over seven years and earning NACC Coach of the Year honors in 2018. In just three seasons at Stevens, Buehring has amassed 80 wins, won two MAC Championships (2022, 2023), and been named MAC and AVCA East Region Coach of the Year (2023). A former NAIA National Champion player at Cal Baptist University and AVP Tour competitor, Buehring has successfully transitioned to coaching while maintaining strong academic standards for his programs.
Charlie Sullivan has led Springfield College men’s volleyball for 26 seasons (1999-present), amassing an impressive 518-201 (.720) record and establishing the program as a Division III powerhouse with 11 national championships (5 NCAA, 6 Molten). He is quickly approaching the 525 win mark. Sullivan has been named AVCA Division III National Coach of the Year five times and coached seven AVCA National Players of the Year. Beyond collegiate success, he achieved a historic fourth-place finish at the 2023 U19 World Championship with Team USA and holds Division III records for consecutive sets won (43), matches won (28), and home matches won (44). A Springfield College alumnus and professor, Sullivan has co-authored books on coaching and sports psychology while maintaining a .926 winning percentage against Division III opponents since 2012.
The Sunday schedule had some great matches, especially as the two major tournaments wind down their schedule in Boston and at Baldwin Wallace.
UC Santa Cruz defeated MSOE 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22) in a tightly contested match at Ursprung Gymnasium. Riley Norman led UCSC with 23 kills while hitting .320, and Dylan Foreman added 16 kills at a .306 clip. MSOE‘s balanced attack was led by Seth Thomas (13 kills) and Callan Harris (12 kills), though they hit just .145 as a team compared to UCSC’s .224. The match featured 26 tie scores and 10 lead changes across four sets, with MSOE taking the opening set before UCSC won three straight. UCSC‘s defense proved crucial with 68 digs and 7 total blocks, while MSOE recorded 52 digs and 14 blocks in the losing effort. Caio Valente directed the UCSC offense effectively with 47 assists, while Parker Rings had 39 assists for MSOE. In their second match, UC Santa Cruz fell in a heartbreaker to St. John Fisher. It was an exciting match to watch with the victor not decided until the last two points over 5 sets. The Cardinals (8-0) outlasted the Banana Slugs (7-5) despite Riley Norman leading all attackers with 20 kills, supported by Dylan Foreman’s 16 kills and 4 blocks, while Jake Baker (15 kills) and Gavin Newman (46 assists, 16 digs) paced the winners St. John Fisher. Despite UCSC holding advantages in kills (58-54) and blocks (10-5), SJF’s tenacity and consistent serving proved decisive in the fifth set. Both setters orchestrated efficient offenses, with UCSC’s Caio Valente dishing out 48 assists while Newman controlled the Fisher attack.
Baldwin Wallace (5-1) enjoyed a statement tournament where they come away with three wins over very strong opponents over the weekend of matches. They knocked off MSOE and UC Santa Cruz on Friday and Saturday and today took down the undefeated Cardinals of St. John Fisher in a one-sided sweep. Owen Huynh and Ted Hofmeister lead the attack orchestrated by Carson Junker. Colby Whiteside showed off his blocking skills for the Yellow Jackets while Jack Sullenberger excelled on the back row. BW outscored SJF 75-48.
Hobart (10-1) bounced back strongly at the Fenway Classic, sweeping Emmanuel (25-21, 25-20, 25-20) before taking down Endicott in four sets (25-13, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18). Andrew Kim led the offensive charge with 25 kills and 16 digs across both matches, while Daniel Sappia contributed an efficient 23 kills (.432). The Statesmen’s depth was evident with Noah DeLong adding 19 kills (.469), while setters Zack Farren and Benjamin Lincoln combined for 73 assists. Despite a third-set surge from Endicott led by Aidan Iacovelli’s six kills, Hobart closed out the match with their best offensive set, recording 17 kills at a .375 clip in the fourth.
Wilkes split their Sunday tri-match, dominating Penn State Schuylkill (25-11, 25-6, 25-10) before falling to John Jay (18-25, 19-25, 21-25). In the opener, Johnnathan Rocha led with 7 kills while James Brust dished 16 assists, as Wilkes outmatched PSU Schuylkill in kills (28-12) and digs (23-10). The momentum shifted in match two, where despite Jackson Shafer’s 13 kills and strong blocking (6-5 advantage), John Jay’s consistent offense proved too much for the Colonels.
Ugly start for the Baruch Bearcats as they drop all 4 matches at the Fenway Classic. Their roster is missing three-time CUNYAC all-star Jack Centeno who we expected to return for his senior year. They return from the tourney in Boston 0-4 and face NYU on Wednesday. Rough…
More to come… stay tuned