Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Rutgers-Newark Athletics

Scoreboard Desktop

Events and Results

Composite Calendar
MVB all-NJAC

Men's Volleyball

Au, Albrecht, and More Featured in NJAC Men’s Volleyball All-Conference Awards

PITMAN, NJ | Following the conclusion of their season, the Scarlet Raiders picked up even more honors after the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) released their end-of-season awards. Derek Au won Player of the Year and Massimo Roco earned Rookie of the Year as both were named to the all-conference first team along with Alex Solodky. Aleks Kolodziej was an honorable mention, and Aidan Albrecht along with his assistants Andrew Zaleck, Daniel Quay, and Eric Szukiewicz were named Coaching Staff of the Year.

Not only did Derek Au make the All-NJAC first team, but he was named NJAC Player of the Year. The legendary setter completed yet another incredible season for the Scarlet Raiders in which he amassed an even 1100 assists. This was enough to make him Rutgers-Newark's all-time leader in career assists with 3,541, surpassing Kevin McCandless at 3,266. Winning Week 6 NJAC Player of the Week and Week 11 NJAC Defensive Player of the Week, Au was third in the conference in assists per set and fifth in service aces per set. To round everything out, he had 192 digs and 101 kills and a .238 hitting percentage. It's hard to imagine a better senior season than that!

Au was not the only Scarlet Raider to make the All-NJAC team and win an individual award. Ever-rising freshman Massimo Roco earned Rookie of the Year, adding to his already long list of accomplishments in his first collegiate season. Roco led the conference in blocks per set by a wide margin with 0.89 and finished the season tied for the lead in hitting percentage at a .391 clip. Not only was he dominant at the net, but he also averaged 0.37 service aces per set, good enough for third in the NJAC. What a year for Roco, who has been more than deserving of all of his recognition!

Rounding out the first team selections is Alex Solodky. The freshman from Austin, Texas took some time to warm up to the college game, but he was a force to be reckoned with once he got going. He finished eighth in the conference with 2.59 kills per set, and ninth in points per set with 2.96. On defense, he averaged 1.17 digs per set and put up 22 total blocks. A master of attacking from the back line, the outside hitter certainly has a bright future ahead of him!

Star sophomore Aleks Kolodziej was also in the mix, picking up an honorable mention. The 2024 CVC Rookie of the Year dominated once again for the Scarlet Raiders, as he led the team in kills per set at 2.88. That was good enough for sixth in the conference, and he paired that with a ninth-best .251 hitting percentage. Kolodziej was another powerful server, landing at seventh in the conference with 0.33 service aces per set. The lefty has now put together two outstanding seasons in a row, and there's no reason to believe he won't continue to build upon his success.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Aidan Albrecht led a coaching staff of Andrew Zaleck, Daniel Quay, and Eric Szukiewicz that won Coaching Staff of the Year. They led their squad to a 24-10
overall record and a 3-0 NJAC record. Albrecht showed tremendous leadership, building a young and incredibly talented roster and providing for them wonderful guidance en route to plenty of success. The coaching staff is the foundation of this incredibly strong program, and there is so much to look forward to for this team because of them.

It has been an unbelievable year for Rutgers-Newark Men's Volleyball. If all goes well, we will see many more seasons like this in the future!

For the latest news, updates, and information on Rutgers-Newark sports, visit rutgersnewarkathletics.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Scarlet Raiders news by following Rutgers-Newark Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Derek Au

#14 Derek Au

S
6' 0"
Senior
Aleks Kolodziej

#16 Aleks Kolodziej

OPP
6' 3"
Freshman
Massimo Roco

#21 Massimo Roco

MB
6' 4"
Freshman
Alex Solodky

#20 Alex Solodky

OH
6' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Derek Au

#14 Derek Au

6' 0"
Senior
S
Aleks Kolodziej

#16 Aleks Kolodziej

6' 3"
Freshman
OPP
Massimo Roco

#21 Massimo Roco

6' 4"
Freshman
MB
Alex Solodky

#20 Alex Solodky

6' 3"
Freshman
OH