All-CONFERENCE TEAM
New York, NY – Junior Steve Vahalla of Kean has been named the 2012 Skyline Conference Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year in voting conducted by the league’s eight head coaches. In addition, the coaches selected Besmir Arslani of New Jersey City as Rookie of the Year and Don Perkins of Kean as Coach of the Year. The Team Sportsmanship Award was shared by Purchase and Yeshiva.
Vahalla, a junior outside hitter from Bloomfield, NJ, enjoyed a superb regular season, leading the Cougars to a 23-10 record, including 13-1 in league play and a share of the Skyline regular season crown with Ramapo. An all-around talent, he leads the league in attack pct. (.333 – 14th nationally), 2nd in kills/set (3.57 – 12th nationally), and 8th in aces (0.36 – 34th nationally). The five-time Player of the Week
also is 2nd in the league in points per set (4.20), as he looks to lead his team to the first-ever NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Arslani, a freshman outside hitter from Wayne, NJ, had an incredible rookie season, leading the Gothic Knights to a 9-5 league mark and the #3 seed in the Skyline Tournament. He leads the league in points
(4.69) and kills per set (4.0 – 4th nationally). The seven-time Rookie-of-the-Week and one-time Player-of-the-Week is also 5th in the league in aces (0.41 – 24th nationally) and digs per set (2.03).
Perkins has guided Kean to an outstanding season, as his team earned the top seed in the Skyline Tournament . Perkins has led the Cougars to a rapid rise in men’s volleyball, as this is only their second season as a varsity squad, and he has them ranked 14th in Division III.
The 2012 All-Conference First Team consists of outside hitters Arslani and Ramapo’s Jeff Jones and Paul Konopacki; opposite hitters Justin Beaumont of New Jersey City (who doubles as a setter) and Christian
Portera of Kean; middle blocker Spencer Hilland of Sage; and libero Tom Kemmerle of Kean.
The All-Skyline Second Team is composed of outside hitters Chris Bacchi of Mount Saint Vincent, Dylan Krowicki of Sage, and Kenny Lisk of New Jersey City; middle hitter Kyle Farley of Kean; middle blocker
Joel Castro of Ramapo; setter Andrew Balint of Ramapo; and libero Timothy Kolodny of Mount Saint Vincent.
2012 SKYLINE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Besmir Arslani, New Jersey City - OH - Fr. - Wayne, NJ
Justin Beaumont, New Jersey City - S/OPP - Jr. - Bayonne, NJ
Spencer Hilland, The Sage Colleges - MB - Jr. - Slingerlands, NY
Jeff Jones, Ramapo - OH - So. - Manahawkin, NJ
Tom Kemmerle, Kean - L - So. - Cinnaminson, NJ
Paul Konopacki, Ramapo - OH - Sr. - Monroe Twp., NJ
Christian Portera, Kean - RS - Sr. - East Brunswick, NJ
SECOND TEAM
Chris Bacchi, Mount Saint Vincent - OH - Sr. - Hicksville, NY
Andrew Balint, Ramapo - S - So. - East Brunswick, NJ
Joel Castro, Ramapo - MB - Jr. - Vernon, NJ
Kyle Farley, Kean - MH - Fr. - Cherry Hill, NJ
Timothy Kolodny, Mount Saint Vincent - L - So. - Woodland Hills, CA
Dylan Krowicki, The Sage Colleges - OH - So. - Little Falls, NY
Kenny Lisk, New Jersey City - OH - Sr. - Old Bridge, NJ
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Steve Vahalla, Kean
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Besmir Arslani, New Jersey City
COACH OF THE YEAR: Don Perkins, Kean
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Purchase and Yeshiva