April 1, 2008

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The North East Collegiate Volleyball Association announced its annual All-Division teams on Tuesday, and Endicott's Dan Coleman (Millis, Mass.) and A.J. Witkofsky (Scotia, N.Y.) were among 15 New England honorees. Coleman was recognized as a First Team selection, while Witkofsky takes home Second Team recognition.

Freshman Justin Brubaker (Telford, Pa.) of Philadelphia Biblical University, junior Danial Levent (Forest Hills, N.Y.) of Baruch College, senior Praveen Pamidimukkala (Edison, N.J.) of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and sophomore Phil Tully (Huntington Station, N.Y.) of Vassar College have been selected as the four North East Collegiate Volleyball Association divisional Player's of the Year for the 2008 season, in voting conducted within each of the 39-team conference's four divisions--CUNYAC, Metro, New England and Western. Pamidimukkala, who was named New England Player of the Year for the second straight year, completes his career at MIT as a four-time First-Team All-New England selection.

In all, 58 student-athletes were named either First or Second-Team All-Division this season. Those players named to a divisional First-Team will be eligible for NECVA All-Conference honors, which will be announced at the league's annual banquet during this weekend's NECVA Tournament, on Saturday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Ramapo College.

The four Rookie of the Year winners are Alberto Bravo (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) of Elms College, Frankie Coto (Miami, Fla.) from Eastern Mennonite University, David Guerrero (East Meadow, N.Y.) from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and Hunter College standout Pablo Oliveira (Uberlândia, Brazil).

For the second consecutive year, Ray Bello of Hunter College has been voted the CUNYAC Coach of the Year, as his Hawks won the regular season title with a 14-0 record and the CUNY Tournament crown. Jade Brubaker of Philadelphia Biblical University, the older brother of player of the year Justin Brubaker, is the Western Division Coach of the Year for the first time after the Crimson Eagles, who needed a play-in-game to qualify for the NECVA Tournament last year and were not ranked in the first Top 10 poll of the year, came out of nowhere to win a rugged Western Division title. David Hildebrandt of Newbury College is the New England Coach of the Year for the first time after leading the Nighthawks to a 10-1 divisional record and the New England title for the first time ever. Jonathan Penn of Vassar College, who guided the Brewers to the league's \#1 ranking for six straight weeks leading up to the conference tournament, is the Metro Coach of the Year in his team's first year as an NECVA member.

2008 NECVA ALL-NEW ENGLAND DIVISION
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Praveen Pamidimukkala (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: : Alberto Bravo (Elms College)
COACH OF THE YEAR: : David Hildebrandt (Newbury College)

FIRST-TEAM:

Praveen Pamidimukkala 123--Massachusetts Institute of Technology--SR--OH
Alberto Bravo--Elms College--FR--OPP
Erik Kostanski--Newbury College--SR--OH
Matt Ferreira--Rivier College--SO--MH
Tim Hughes 12--Mount Ida College--SR--MH
Zach Hansen--Rivier College--SO--S
Matt Talamantes--Newbury College--FR--S
Dan Coleman 24--Endicott College--JR--L

SECOND-TEAM:

Jared Andreozzi--Rivier College--FR--OH
Bryan McDermand--Newbury College--JR--OPP
Michael Townsend 4--Emmanuel College--SO--OH
A.J. Witkofsky 4--Endicott College--SO--MB
Mark Thomas--Newbury College--SO--MH
Ivan Andujar 1--Elms College--SO--S
Ryan Dean 4--Massachusetts Institute of Technology--SR--L