CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville University men's volleyball team worked as a top team in the NAIA last season behind All-Americans
Rafael Cruz and
John Montalvo as the pair is being recognized in the offseason by Off the Block.
Off the Block is a website that focuses on college men's volleyball news and analysis. With its in-depth and year-round coverage of the sport, the website has become the nation's leader in college men's volleyball coverage.
OTB started their VolleyGov campaign this fall as they were hosting elections to determine the best men's volleyball player representative from each state in the United States. Off the Block determined every player on the ballots using a variety of factors, including national honors and the player's college performance in recent seasons.
Cruz, a native of Greenwood, Ind., was a nominee and eventually voted the best volleyball player out of the state of Indiana after his 2020 Second Team All-American selection. Cruz holds almost every attacking record in the men's volleyball record book after joining the team in its inaugural season in 2017 and will continue into a fifth year in 2021 after the cancelation of the 2020 season maintained all eligibility.
Montalvo, who hails from Ocala, Fla., was one of the nominees out of the state of Florida as the libero went up against six other volleyball players from the sunshine state. Montalvo didn't end up winning the vote but his 2020 season was spectacular after being named the Mid-South Conference Player and Libero of the Year as well as an NAIA First Team All-American selection.
Cruz, Montalvo, and the rest of the Campbellsville men's volleyball squad are scheduled to begin their season on Jan. 8 on the road at Goshen College.
