NEWTON, Mass. – Two standouts on the Lasell College men's volleyball team received post-season honors Tuesday from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) for their strong performances during the 2019 season.
Senior Jordan Aprea (Newington, Conn./Newington) highlighted the awards for Lasell by being named GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-GNAC. Senior Andy Henriquez (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence) was also honored with selection to the All-GNAC Third Team. The All-Conference Teams are determined by a vote by the league's head coaches.
A 5-11 defensive specialist, Aprea led the conference and ranked seventh nationally in Division III with 3.10 digs per set. He reached double figures in digs in 13 matches this season, including at least 20 digs three times and a career-high 31 in a victory over Emerson College in February. He made 19 digs against Emmanuel College on the final day of the regular season, and finished with 20 digs in a GNAC playoff loss last week at Emmanuel.
Last month, Aprea became the first player in program history to record 1,000 career digs, and he finishes his career with 1,151. He also recorded 170 career kills and 119 service aces. Aprea receives All-Conference accolades for the third straight year after earning a Second Team honor in 2017 and Third Team last year.
A 6-3 setter, Henriquez finished fifth in the GNAC with 6.70 assists per set. He posted at least 20 assists 14 times this season, including the last six matches and 11 of the last 14. He was also second on the team with 1.82 digs per set, fifth with 0.43 blocks per set and a .238 attack percentage, and sixth with 1.20 kills per set.
Earlier this season, Henriquez became the third player in program history to record 2,000 career assists, and he finishes his career with 2,525. He also recorded 300 career kills, 486 digs, and 129 blocks.
Additionally, sophomore Conor Leary-Watson (Bethany, Conn./Amity Regional) was Lasell's representative on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Leary-Watson was second on the team with 1.74 kills per set and fourth with 33 blocks.
The Lasers finished the season with a 13-17 overall record under acting head coach Dana Jones, finishing in fifth place in the GNAC regular season standings with a 7-7 mark. Lasell was eliminated from the GNAC Tournament in the quarterfinals by fourth-seeded Emmanuel, 3-2.
2019 GNAC All-Star Teams
First Team
Erik English, Emmanuel
Cameron Ponce, Johnson & Wales
Jordan Aprea, Lasell
Pedro Campos, Rivier
David Smith, Rivier
Ryan Love, Wentworth
Augusto Rodriguez-Guerrios, Wentworth
Second Team
Seamus McDonagh, Emmanuel
Sanjae Holloway, Johnson & Wales
Jack Pincince, Johnson & Wales
Dashaun Graham, Rivier
Cam Roth, Rivier
Khaynen Yocca, Rivier
Xhuljo Zyba, Wentworth
Third Team
Mark Piorkowski, Emerson
Donovan Kelley, Johnson & Wales
Josh Pitzer, Johnson & Wales
Andy Henriquez, Lasell
Jack Normandin, Rivier
Ryan Engel, Wentworth
Peter Klembczyk, Wentworth
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Pedro Campos. Rivier
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jordan Aprea, Lasell
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Jack Pincince, Johnson & Wales
COACH OF THE YEAR – Craig Kolek, Rivier
INSTITUTIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – Colby-Sawyer College
ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Marc Flaherty, Colby- Sawyer
Sam Willinger, Emerson
John Carroll, Emmanuel
Peter Medici, JWU
Conor Leary-Watson, Lasell
Dashaun Graham, Rivier
Dimitri Stewart, Regis
Kevin Devine, Wentworth
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