2012 Men’s Volleyball Season Preview
The York College men's volleyball team has been to the semifinals of the CUNY Athletic Conference Championship each of the last three seasons but has been unable to get into a title game that has been dominated by Hunter College and Baruch College over the years.
With a strong recruiting class and a number of key returning players, the Cardinals are hopeful that this is the year they can get over the hump and possibly even qualify for the first-ever NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championships.
Leading the returning players this season is senior setter
Kenan Kajtezovic. Kajtezovic, a three-year member of the Cardinals' squad, will bring lots of experience to the setter position for York.
“He should step up this year,” said York Head Coach Andre Titus. “He's learning how to get the ball in the right spots.”
At the middle hitter position, York brings back two big men in senior
Jhonnattan Fernandez and sophomore
Tobi Awopetu. Fernandez and Awopetu were the team's leading shot blockers respectively and will be looked up on to do the same this year.
Also returning is sophomore
Maximo Bonilla, who is a strong utility player who can fill in at multiple positions. Defensively, York brings back sophomore
Terrence Sutton, the team's leader in digs, as well as defensive specialist
Ivan Rivera.
“Terrence will be primarily a defensive player this year,” added Titus. “Last year he bounced around a lot. Being able to focus on just the libero position should give him a boost.”
After sitting out last season, junior
Bryan Williams will return to York. At 6-4, Williams will provide needed height and lots of power when York attacks the ball. Two years ago, Williams was one of the team's leading hitters and shot-blockers.
York also brings one of its strongest recruiting classes in recent years. Outside hitters Edner Junior Geffrard and
Sebastien Francois, as well as setter
Jon Peter Sardea have experience on an international level, which should prepare them well for the college game.
Francis Jimenez is another newcomer who should be strong on the outside.
The Cardinals have the talent this season, it's just a question of putting it all together.
“If we can focus on both individual and team goals, apply what we learn in practice and trust the system then I believe we can achieve our goals,” added Titus.
Some key games on this year's non-conference schedule include the season opener on January 25 at New Jersey City University, the home opener on February 7 against Rutgers-Newark University and the 8
th Annual York College Classic on March 9 and 10.
In conference play, the key match-ups include a home match on February 16 against rival CCNY—who York has knocked out of the quarterfinals each of the last three seasons—a March 17
th home match against Hunter College and a doubleheader against conference-champion Baruch College on April 4
th.
