The year may be different, but the goal is the same for the State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team — to win the UVC Championship and return to the NCAA DIII tournament.

It has been two long years since the Hawks have hoisted the NCAA National Championship trophy; two long years interrupted by the necessary protocols and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019 NCAA Division III Champions saw a splendid 16-3 2020 season abruptly end and were never able to gain momentum for the 2021 UVC season, losing in the conference final to cross river rival Vassar College. Putting last season's frustrating spring behind them, SUNY New Paltz is ready to get back in the gym in their pursuit for the program's third national title. 

"We prepared by coming back ready to go," said Hawks senior libero Dan LaRosa. "The guys are excited to be back. Last year, it was kind of a bummer season. We didn't finish where we wanted and the season was kind of a little funky, so we're excited to get back in the gym, work hard and get prepared for a first real season [in a while]."

The 2022 season will be a challenge for 16-year head coach Radu Petrus and the Hawks. Following the 2021 campaign, the team graduated eight seniors. Among them was two-time UVC selection and 2021 UVC Libero of the Year Robert Nolan, All-American middle blocker Nick O'Malley, two-time All-American opposite Aaron Carrk and perhaps most significantly, three-time All-American and two-time UVC Player of the Year Matthew Grace. The experience they leave behind will need to be quickly replaced by the nine seniors on this season's roster.

"[We] definitely lost a lot of big, key players in that graduating class. Matt Grace, Aaron Carrk, Nick O'Malley — those guys have been there since we got here and this is our first year without them, but we're all ready to go," LaRosa said. "A bunch of us are stepping up as leaders, you know, keeping those same objectives and same goals in place." 

Leading the Hawks is outside hitter and 2021 UVC First-Team selection Brendan Spulnick (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa HS). Spulnick started seven of SUNY New Paltz's 10 matches in 2021 and was the team leader in points (157), kills (124), and service aces (22). Outside hitter Chris Shanley (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown HS West) started five of seven matches and led the team and the UVC with a .366 hitting percentage. Setter Kyle Shaffer (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown HS West) averaged 6.5 points, three kills and three service aces over five matches and was second in assists for 2021 and will look to take over the starting role from Grace. Opposite Matt Logel (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island Senior HS) saw action in eight matches with 24 kills. Pat Wing (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa HS) had five starts in eight matches in the middle with 33 kills, six service aces and 47.5 points, while LaRosa looks to step into the starting libero role with the graduation of Nolan. In one start and seeing action in three matches, LaRosa scored 4.5 points with three kills serving as primarily as a defensive specialist the last two seasons.

"Our expectations are to come in here, work hard every, stay excited, be ready to work hard and our goal is to win the UVC Championship and eventually a national championship," LaRosa said.

Also with playoff experience is setter Cam Clark (Farmington, NY/Victor Central HS) who saw action in four matches with 15 assists, and will vye for playing time as the team's lead setter with Shaffer. Libero Brian Kaplan (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown HS East played in nine of the Hawks 11 matches. Outside hitter Tim Drake (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa HS) played in two matches, while middle blocker John Ronan (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa HS) started one of three matches scoring 4.5 points with three kills.

Three sophomores also return for SUNY New Paltz, with only middle blocker Adam Brawn seeing match play. Brawn started two of four matches, scoring 20.5 points, with 15 kills. Chris Larkin and Nathan Petrik round out the sophomore class for the Hawks, and although they have yet gotten live collegiate action they bring impressive resumes, as Larkin (Westfield, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) was an All-Hudson County selection and led his team to the Hudson County championship, while Petrik (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West Senior HS) was a Coaches All-Western New York selection as a senior. 

Getting their first taste of competitive DIII competition will be some talented newcomers. Leading the pack is opposite Evan Kane (Blue Point, NY/Bayport-Blue Point HS). Kane brings impressive credentials to the Hawks as a two-time All-Suffolk County, two-time Newsday Top-25

Long Island and Second Team AVCA All-Region selection. Another standout from Suffolk Country, Matt Rouleau (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore HS) was among the top-20 Suffolk players in kills, blocks and service aces as a senior, while Carter Lotz (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber HS) was a Newsday Top-Long Island volleyball selection, as well as a LIVBALL Top-10 honorable mention.

SUNY New Paltz opens its campaign to recapture the UVC and NCAA DIII title with a six-game trip to the West Coast, beginning with four matches at the annual Slug Slam Tournament hosted by perennial power UC Santa Cruz.

"I'd say we're prepared. We had a [weird] year where we didn't practice consistently, so we're just trying to get back what we lost through COVID and stuff, but we're looking pretty good and I'm excited," Shaffer said. "Because of COVID and stuff a lot of the guys came back from last year and we had a good group of seniors that has been ready to step up for three or four years now. So we're ready. I mean, the energy has been great. We're just very excited to be able to play again and go to California."

After their west coast trip, the Hawks open their UVC account at home Feb. 9 against Bard College. Also on the schedule are national powers Springfield College, Stevens Institute of Technology and New Jersey City University, but circled on the schedule will undoubtedly be the Brewers.

Vassar, returning 15 players from last season's conference championship squad, including AVCA All-American outside Andrew Kim, will be the team the beat. The Hawks were listed at No. 2 in the UVC Coaches Preseason Poll rankings behind the Brewers. SUNY New Paltz, not used to going into matches unfavored for the win, is embracing the underdog mentality throughout the season.

"We try not to look at preseason rankings… [we] just try to stay focused on us. But, you know, using last year as motivation is definitely going to be key for us this year," LaRosa said. "Like I said earlier, we didn't end up where we wanted to end off."

The 2022 season begins Friday for SUNY New Paltz, as it opens up the Slug Slam Tournament in Santa Cruz, California against Westcliff and Stevenson University.

Season Preview Featuring Dan LaRsoa & Kyle Shaffer


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