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Nine players earned a college men’s volleyball honor for their regular season performances.
Off the Block announced on Thursday the 2019 Off the Block All-Independent Team, which was determined by a nationwide voting committee.
The All-Independent Team recognizes the best players during the regular season from NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams that are competing without a conference affiliation. The five independent teams this season were Alderson Broaddus, Coker, Daemen, Lincoln Memorial and Queens.
Both Lincoln Memorial and Queens led all teams with three All-Independent Team selections. Alderson Broaddus, Coker and Daemen each finished with one player making the All-Independent Team.
Head coaches from the NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams comprised the voting committee for this award.
The eight players who received the most votes, regardless of their position, were placed on the All-Independent Team. A tie resulted in nine players making the All-Independent Team this year.
This is the third season that Off the Block has presented the All-Independent Team for NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball. Off the Block is a website that launched in 2011 and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage.
Along with presenting the All-Independent Team, Off the Block presents the Independent Teams Player of the Year and the Independent Teams Freshman of the Year. The college men’s volleyball website also presented the Independent Teams Player of the Week throughout the regular season.
The majority of the independent teams will conclude their seasons competing at the IVA Tournament that begins Friday at Lincoln Memorial.
2019 Off the Block All-Independent Team
Setter: AJ Risavy, Lincoln Memorial
Opposite: Evan Cory, Lincoln Memorial
Opposite: Joao Victor Santos, Coker
Opposite: Jahari Winfield, Daemen
Outside attacker: Cameron Snaden, Anderson Broaddus
Outside attacker: Tristan Santoyo, Queens
Middle attacker: Pedro Carvalho, Lincoln Memorial
Middle attacker: JP Payne, Queens
Libero: Ruben Greenstein, Queens
Pedro Carvalho, Lincoln Memorial
Carvalho was second in the nation with a 1.43 blocks per game average, including a season-high 10 blocks in a sweep against Queens in February. The middle attacker also had a .389 attack percentage during the regular season and had a season-best 13 kills while hitting .750 in a four-game victory versus Lees-McRae in March.
Evan Cory, Lincoln Memorial
Cory finished the regular season eighth in the nation with a 4.05 kills per game average on a career-best .332 attack percentage, including having at least 20 kills in five matches. The five-time recipient of the Independent Teams Player of the Week also was third in the country averaging 0.60 aces per game and was in the nation’s top 15 with a 1.10 blocks per game.
Ruben Greenstein, Queens
Greenstein finished the regular season in the nation’s top 20 with a 2.10 digs per game average. The libero had double-digit digs in six matches, including 12 digs in a near upset of King in March.
JP Payne, Queens
Payne concluded the regular season with a .374 attack percentage and had nine matches with at least nine kills. The middle attacker had a career-best 65 blocks, including a season-high seven blocks in a loss to Belmont Abbey in February.
AJ Risavy, Lincoln Memorial
Risavy led all players on independent teams and was seventh in the nation with a 10.05 assists per game average. He also guided the Railsplitters to the 14th-best attack percentage in the nation at .282.
Joao Victor Santos, Coker
Santos, the 2018 Independent Teams Player of the Year, ended the regular season in the nation’s top 20 with a 3.61 kills per game average. He also had double-digit kills in all but three matches highlighted by a season-high 21 kills in an upset victory against Mount Olive in February.
Tristan Santoyo, Queens
Santiago led the Royals with a 2.90 kills per game average and added a career-high 23 aces. The outside attacker had double-digit kills in 14 matches, including a match-high 16 kills in an upset victory against Mount Olive in February.
Cameron Snaden, Anderson Broaddus
Snaden led Anderson Broaddus with a 3.25 kills per game average during the regular season. The sophomore had double-digit kills in six matches, including a season-high 21 kills against Coker in January.
Jabari Winfield, Daemen
Winfield led Daemen in program’s inaugural season with a 2.89 kills per game average. In addition, Winfield opened the season with back-to-back 20 kill performances against Anderson Broaddus and Emmanuel.