ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Empire 8 Athletic Conference released its Men’s Volleyball All-Conference postseason awards on Thursday morning, with four Soaring Eagles earning honors along with Ryan Mattes ’23, who earned a spot on the Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year squad.
Amongst the Elmira recipients was Alberto Mauricio ’25, who earned Co-Rookie of the Year in the conference alongside Josh Weaver from Nazareth. Mauricio, who earned Empire 8 Rookie of the Week honors seven times throughout the season, led the Soaring Eagles in kills (257), digs (138), and service aces (38).
Joining Mauricio from the Soaring Eagles was Oscar Munoz Trinidad ’23, Jordan Peiser ’24, and Edwin Sosa ’25, who each earned second team honors. This season, Munoz Trinidad set the program record after recording a .905 hitting percentage against Hilbert on February 12, notching 19 kills on 21 attempts. Additionally, he ranks second on the Soaring Eagles in kills (256), digs (114), assists (266), and third in blocks (52.0).
For Peiser, it was his first all-conference selection in his second season as the sophomore was third on the team in kills (201) behind Mauricio and Munoz Trinidad, while finishing second in service aces (35) and fourth in digs (79). Last week, Peiser recorded a career-high 18 kills in Elmira’s five-set loss to UVC No. 1 seed SUNY New Paltz.
Sosa finished the season with four matches of ten or more kills, including 11 against Thiel on January 30. Sosa earned an Empire 8 Rookie of the Week award during the season, while ranking second on the team in total blocks with 52.0, and fifth in kills (141).
Mattes earned himself a spot on the Sportsman of the Year team after an impressive junior campaign where he led the Soaring Eagles in blocks (54.0).
Sophomores Jake Baker of St. John Fisher College and Owen Wickens of Nazareth College shared 2022 Empire 8 Player of the Year honors. Baker, an outside hitter, is averaging 3.48 kills per set, 31st overall in the nation. Overall, he has 327 kills, 126 digs, 41 blocks and 26 service aces this season. Wickens, who has seen time as an outside hitter and setter this season, leads Nazareth with 262 kills, 160 digs and 79 service aces to go along with 342 assists and 39 blocks.
David Ceruqa of St. John Fisher earned his third E8 Libero/Defensive Player of the Year honor….
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