Seven Raider Volleyball Players Receive 2010 GNAC Honors

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) announced the 2010 Men's Volleyball All-Conference teams on Saturday, March 27th and Rivier landed seven of its players onto various all-conference teams. The 2010 GNAC champions posted a 28-8 overall record while going 11-1 in conference play thus far in 2010.

Senior setter Zach Hansen (Shelton, CT) was named to the All-Conference First Team and was also named GNAC Player of the Year. Hansen, a team captain, leads the Raiders in assist (1,229), assists per set (12.41), service aces (59) and digs (207) in his 2010 campaign. As the director of the offense, Hansen currently sits seventh in the country for aces per game and fourth in the country in assists per game.

Fellow senior captain Matt Ferreira (Lincoln, RI) also received First Team honors as he slammed down 275 kills and tallied 103 blocks this season. Ferreira, last season GNAC Player of the Year, is seventh in the nation in blocks per game and 11th in the nation in hitting percentage.

Junior outside hitter Jared Andreozzi (Barrington, RI) is the third Rivier player named to the GNAC First Team. Jared is leading the Raiders in total kills (484), kills per game (4.94), hitting percentage (.373) and points per set (5.69). As a junior, Jared has eclipsed both the 1000 kills in a career plateau as well as breaking the record for kills in a season, previously 451, set in 2006 by All-American Andy Chace. Jared was also named the 2010 GNAC Tournament MVP after putting down 20 kills for a .760 hitting percentage in the championship game against Emmanuel College.

Senior libero Kyle O'Neill (Long Beach, NY) was named the Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference for the second year in a row as he recorded 176 digs and averaged a team high 2.29 digs per set.

Taylor Linder (Cheshire, CT) made a name for himself this year as he was named the GNAC Rookie of the Year and receive Second Team All-Conference honors. The 6'4" freshman middle hitter played in 98 games this season with a team high 116 blocks and team high 1.20 blocks per set. Taylor currently holds the seventh spot in the nation for both blocks per game and hitting percentage.

Sophomore outside/middle hitter Alex Xenidis (Shelton, CT) had a break out year in 2010 as he was named to the GNAC Third Team All-Conference. Xenidis put down 161 kills for a .279 average and recorded 70 blocks on the season.

Raider sophomore Andrew Paine (Quincy, MA) was the final All-Conference honoree as he was named to the GNAC All Sportsmanship Team. In conference games this season, Paine landed 68 kills for a .385 hitting percentage and picked up 49 digs.

The Raiders season is not over as they will travel to Elms College on April 6th for one last regular season match before heading to the Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Barnstable, MA for the 16 team NECVA Regional Championship Tournament which is set to begin on Friday, April 9th. Seeding for the upcoming tournament will be released on Monday, April 5th.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL 2010 GNAC ALL-CONFERENCE

First Team All-GNAC

Second Team All-GNAC

Third Team All-GNAC

GNAC Sportsmanship Team

GNAC Championship All Tournament Team