BOSTON, Mass. – In a year of countless records broken and a regular season for the history books, the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team, which went 30-1 in the 2024 campaign, had several student-athletes earn recognition from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference in the form of postseason awards. In addition, Leopards' head coach Evin Giglio was named GNAC Coach of the Year.
The all-conference teams and major award winners were voted on by the league's eight head coaches prior to the start of the conference tournament.
Senior Jacob LaBouliere (Pipersville, Pa.) was named the GNAC's Offensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row. The outside hitter rocks a 4.46 kills per set rate to go along with a .441 hitting percentage which ranks first in the league. LaBouliere also has 100 digs, 44 blocks, and 23 service aces this season, and became the fourth student-athlete to surpass the 1,000 career kills milestone back on February 15 versus Lasell. In addition, LaBouliere was named to the all-league first team for the third year in a row and was named FrogJump Volleyball's Outside Hitter of the Year for the second straight season.
Graduate student Brandon Dunz (Lake View, N.Y.) earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Year honors as he leads the GNAC with 1.10 blocks per set this season, totaling 77 across 70 sets played. The Lake View, N.Y. native also tacks on 102 kills, 24 digs, and 19 service aces to his stat line. Dunz set a program record on March 9, recording 10 blocks in a 3-0 sweep over then-No.16-ranked UC Santa Cruz. In addition, Dunz was named to the All-GNAC Second Team.
Sophomore Mason Andrade (North Kingstown, R.I.) was named the GNAC's Libero of the Year after being named to the league's all-rookie team a season ago. The sophomore ranks first on the Leopards with 151 digs, rocking a 1.70 digs per set rate, and added in on offense with 18 assists and 35 kills. Andrade also earned his respective spot on the All-Conference First Team.
Giglio was named GNAC Coach of the Year after taking the Black & Gold to historic heights in his 13th season at the helm, leading the Leopards through a record-breaking 24 match win streak to open the season. The Leopards earned the top spot in the AVCA/NVA poll after starting the season ranked third and sat there for ten straight weeks in the midst of the streak. Wentworth captured their third straight and fifth overall GNAC title under Giglio's guidance, earning a bid into their fourth straight NCAA Tournament.
Senior Jacob Waga (East Northport, N.Y.) registered the best season of his career in 2024, earning a selection on the All-GNAC First Team. The right side hitter holds a 2.46 kills per set rate to go along with a .237 hitting percentage. Waga also has 38 service aces, 139 digs. and 43 blocks, including six solo.
Junior Sam Etter (Massillon, Ohio) returns to the GNAC spotlight this season, being named to the all-conference second team for the second season in a row. To date the junior holds a 2.20 kills per set rate tacked on with a .282 clip. Etter also has 71 digs along with 23 blocks.
Junior Josh Milke (Eastampton, N.J.) earned All-GNAC Second Team honors after being named the GNAC's Setter of the Week eight times in 2024. The junior leads the league with 10.73 assists per set and also has 76 digs and 48 blocks.
Sophomore Nicolai Bell (Moraga, Calif.) was named to the All-GNAC Third Team after being named to the All-Rookie squad a season ago. To date the middle hitter ranks second in the league behind Dunz with 0.97 blocks per set and has also chipped in with 107 kills at a .421 clip.
Freshman Mekhi Burns (Las Vegas, Nev.) earned a spot on the GNAC All-Rookie Team, helping the Leopards with .79 digs per set, 21 assists, and 10 finishes.
Freshman Conner Foxwell (Harrisburg, Pa.) joins Burns on the all-rookie team as the middle hitter currently has 59 kills in 42 sets as well as 25 blocks, including six solo.
Senior Anthony Krzykowski (Feeding Hills, Mass.) was the Leopards' representative on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
Hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament in their fourth straight tournament appearance, the Leopards face Lancaster Bible in Tansey Gymnasium on Friday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m.
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