Men's Volleyball 4-14-2020

Men's Volleyball CU Athletics

Snyder named NAIA Coach of the Year, three Tigers earn first-ever NAIA All-American honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2020 Men's Volleyball All-American teams and Campbellsville University had three student-athletes earn the honor. 
 
John Montalvo earned First-Team honors, while Ramon Matos was a Second-Team member and Rafael Cruz earned Honorable Mention. In addition, head coach Eric Snyder was named the NAIA Coach of the Year for the first time in his tenure and also the first Coach of the Year recipient in CU men's volleyball program history. The NAIA All-Americans are also the first in program history. 
 
Montalvo, a redshirt junior, averaged 2.66 digs per set for an opponent hitting percentage of 0.81. Playing in 79 sets for the Tigers, Montalvo closed his season with 210 digs to rank 10th in the NAIA in the category, while picking up double digit dig totals in 11 matches.

Montalvo also recorded 19 service aces, 48 assists, and 34 kills to help the Tigers.
 
In addition to NAIA All-American honors, Montalvo was named the MSC Libero and Player of the Year, First-Team All-MSC and a AVCA First-Team All-American.
 
Matos, a junior from Chicago, Ill., was mentioned after ranking in the NAIA's top 10 in blocks and blocks per set after totaling 82 blocks this season. Matos was also able to record 142 kills while attacking at a rate of .386.
 
Cruz, a senior from Greenwood, Ind., led the Tigers with 209 kills on the season and hitting .329. While averaging 2.8 kills per set, Cruz became the first Tiger to surpass 1,000 career kills.
 
Cruz finished his career with 1,1164 kills, a hitting percentage of .233, 411 digs, 144 blocks, and 80 service aces.
 
Coach Snyder earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Tigers to a 23-2 record and going 9-0 in Mid-South Conference play. The Tigers picked up their first No. 1 overall ranking in the NAIA and finished the year atop the polls.
 
Opening the season with back-to-back wins over No. 2 Missouri Baptist and No. 3 Grand View, Campbellsville was able to complete straight set sweeps in 18 of their 25 matches, dropping just one set in Mid-South Conference play.
 
Snyder also aided Campbellsville to their first ever NCCAA National Invitational tournament victory. 
 
Among teams in the Mid-South Conference, Campbellsville led the way in five major statistical categories with a hitting percentage of .277, 1048 kills, 977 assists, 150 aces, and 191 blocks.
 
Coach Snyder has led the Tigers to a 55-11 record in two seasons at Campbellsville.
 
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Players Mentioned

Rafael Cruz

#10 Rafael Cruz

OH
6' 2"
Junior
Greenwood, Ind.
Jay Montalvo

#14 Jay Montalvo

L/OH/S
5' 10"
Junior
Ocala, Fla.
Ramon Matos

#13 Ramon Matos

OPP/MB
6' 4"
Junior
Von Steuben High School/Lincoln College

Players Mentioned

Rafael Cruz

#10 Rafael Cruz

6' 2"
Junior
Greenwood, Ind.
OH
Jay Montalvo

#14 Jay Montalvo

5' 10"
Junior
Ocala, Fla.
L/OH/S
Ramon Matos

#13 Ramon Matos

6' 4"
Junior
Von Steuben High School/Lincoln College
OPP/MB