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Eight college men’s volleyball players were selected to the inaugural Off the Block All-Independent Team on Monday.
The Off the Block All-Independent Team honors the top men’s volleyball players on teams in NCAA Division I-II or transitioning to NCAA Division I-II that competed as independents without a conference this season. Similar to an all-conference team, the All-Independent Team recognizes outstanding individual performances during the regular season.
Alderson Broaddus led all schools with four players making the All-Independent Team. In addition, Coker had two recipients, while Holy Names and Charleston each had one player earn the honor.
A voting committee comprised of the head coaches from the four independent teams — Alderson Broaddus, Coker, Charleston and Holy Names — determined the All-Independent Team.
Off the Block is a website that started in January 2011 and has become among the national leaders in college men’s volleyball coverage.
Off the Block annually presents national college men’s volleyball awards to recognize outstanding individual performances. Among the other annual national awards it presents includes the Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. Freshmen All-American Team, the Lloy Ball Award, the Karch Kiraly Award and the Bryan Ivie Award.
OFF THE BLOCK ALL-INDEPENDENT TEAM
Setter: Kody Deiter, Alderson Broaddus
Opposite: Artur Cabral, Coker
Opposite: Rajahl Moxey, Charleston
Opposite: Will Ruiz, Alderson Broaddus
Outside attacker: Obenda Besongngem, Alderson Broaddus
Outside attacker: Kyle Cazares, Holy Names
Outside attacker: Luke Hansen, Coker
Libero: Travis Vincenzini, Alderson Broaddus
ALL-INDEPENDENT TEAM PLAYER BIOS
Obenda Besongngem, Alderson Broaddus
Besongngem had a team-high 3.21 kills per game average, including having more than 20 kills in victories against North Greenville and Mount Olive. The freshman also helped the Battlers finish the regular season at 16-6.
Artur Cabral, Coker
Cabral finished the regular season in the nation’s top 10 with both a 3.90 kills per game average and a 0.57 aces per game average. The sophomore also had more than 15 kills in 11 matches, including a season-high 24 kills in a five-game loss to Belmont Abbey in March. In addition, Cabral helped Coker go 4-1 against other independent teams and had a combined 51 kills in those matches.
Kyle Cazares, Holy Names
Cazares had a team-high 3.28 kills per game average and closed out the season with double-digit kills in the Hawks’ final six matches. The junior also had a match-high 16 kills in a four-game victory against UC Merced in January.
Kody Deiter, Alderson Broaddus
Deiter led Alderson Broaddus with a 9.44 assists per game average and guided the Battlers offense to a .224 attack percentage, which was the best among independent teams. The junior also was second on the team with 10 aces.
Luke Hansen, Coker
Hansen led Coker with a 1.35 digs per game average and was second on the team averaging 2.48 kills per game. The junior also had a season-high 16 kills in a four-game victory against North Greenville in March to help Coker finish the regular season at 9-18.
Rajahl Moxey, Charleston
Moxey led Charleston in its inaugural season with a 2.68 kills per game average and had double-digit kills in six matches. The freshman also finished with a team-high in kills during all three of Charleston’s matches against EIVA schools. Charleston announced earlier this year that it will join the EIVA starting next season.
Will Ruiz, Alderson Broaddus
Ruiz finished the season second on the team with a 2.87 kills per game average and had double-digit kills in all five of Battlers’ matches against Conference Carolinas opponents. The junior also helped Alderson Broaddus ended the season 4-1 versus Conference Carolinas schools.
Travis Vincenzini, Alderson Broaddus
Vincenzini had a team-high 2.93 digs per game average and double-digit digs in eight matches this season. The junior also had a combined 25 digs in two victories against Charleston to help the Battlers end the season with a winning record.