Men’s Volleyball Recognized in GNAC End-of-Season Awards

WINTHROP, Mass. – The Regis College men's volleyball team received recognition from the head coaches of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), as two players received All-GNAC honors, one was voted to the GNAC All-Rookie Team, and a fourth was selected to represent the Pride on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team, as the league office announced the postseason honors Monday, April 11.

Outside hitter Matt Ferrara (Sandown, N.H.) was voted Second Team All-GNAC after leading the Pride with 262 kills, third-most in a single season in program history, plus he collected 135 digs, 29 service aces, and 43 total blocks. March 19 against Emerson, he notched a double-double with 17 kills and 16 digs, followed by an outstanding performance against Colby-Sawyer with 19 kills on 27 attack attempts without an error for a .704 hitting percentage, leading to his selection to the FrogJump Team of the Week.

Kostea Andreenko (Marstons Mills, Mass.) collected Third Team All-GNAC honors after leading the GNAC in total blocks with 76 this season, tied for fourth for most blocks in a season in Pride history. He also led the team with 33 service aces and contributed 146 kills. Andreenko was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week twice during the year, once after an eight-block effort against Eastern Nazarene Jan. 28 and against after the SUNY Potsdam match when he also earned a career-high nine total blocks.

In his first season of collegiate competition, Joseph Perez (Miami, Fla.) made an immediate impact for the Pride, culminating in his selection to the GNAC All-Rookie Team. Perez ended up with 229 kills and 32 service aces, both fourth-most in a single season in program history. He was named GNAC Rookie of the Week Feb. 7 in part after earning 10 kills and eight digs against Dean Feb. 5. In total, Perez finished with 10 or more kills in a match 10 times, highlighted by a 14-kill, 13-dig performance in the team's first-ever victory over Emmanuel March 26.

Senior Shane Phillip (Brockton, Mass.) was chosen to represent the Pride on the GNAC Men's Volleyball All-Sportsmanship Team. One of this year's captains, Phillip appeared in 34 sets within 17 matches this season, including a four-kill, five-dig effort at Dean College March 12. He also picked up two digs against conference champion Wentworth on Senior Day April 2.

"Shane was a great representation of our program on and off the court. He led by example and held everyone within the program to a higher standard," said head coach Josh Anderson. Assistant coach John Carroll added, "Shane is a great example of what we want a student-athlete to be for Regis College."

Nationally ranked Wentworth, the GNAC regular season and tournament champion on its way to the NCAA Tournament, picked up the Offensive Player of the Year (Jacob LaBouliere), Defensive Player of the Year (Phoenix Stebbins), and Coach of the Year (Evin Giglio) awards. Jordan Shinaut of Lasell was named GNAC Rookie of the Year, and Dean College received the Team Sportsmanship Award.

Regis College completed the 2022 season with a 12-17 overall record, including a 7-9 mark within the GNAC to finish tied for fifth in the final regular season standings. The Pride qualified for the GNAC Men's Volleyball Tournament for the first time since joining the league in 2018.