History was made this season for the 91短视频 men鈥檚 volleyball team. A driving force for the Royals was the best defense in the Continental Volleyball Conference, and middle blocker (Greencastle, Pa., Greencastle-Antrim) led the way throughout the regular season all the way to the team鈥檚 run to the CVC Championship match.
Eastern Mennonite made its first CVC tournament appearance in the six-year history of the league and made a deep run, upsetting top-seeded Marymount in the semifinals. In that match, Dan tied a career high with 10 blocks. He also notched 11 kills, which was just one shy of his career high. In the championship match against Juniata, he added 10 kills and nine more blocks.
鈥淒uring the tournament, Christian and I were connecting well and I was able to put balls away,鈥� Dan said. 鈥淭he energy from the intense matches and from the crowd at Marymount really pushed me to be as aggressive as possible on my blocks. This couldn鈥檛 have happened if the pin blockers didn鈥檛 set the blocks well and it makes the job as a middle a lot easier.鈥�
With his defensive dominance during the tournament, Dan was named to the CVC All-Tournament Team.
He ended the season leading the CVC in blocks per set at 1.25. Offensively, he had a hitting percentage of .287 while also putting down 1.42 kills per set.
鈥淒an has been a defensive force at the net with his massive block all year,鈥� Coach Ross Madden said. 鈥淗e not only reads the offense like a textbook, but is surprisingly quick side to side for a man of his size. Once Dan comes into the front row, our opposition gets demoralized and they start to tip.鈥�
Coach Madden also speaks of Dan鈥檚 smart mind as being a key component to his success, noting multiple times that setter聽 (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) and Dan would 鈥減ick apart鈥� the opponent鈥檚 defense in order to score.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got a true problem solver鈥檚 mind for the game,鈥� Coach Madden said.
This year鈥檚 Royals accomplished a lot, tying for the best season in program history with a record of 22-11. Not only did they make the CVC Tournament for the first time, but they were also nationally ranked for a majority of the year before making a deep postseason run to finish as the CVC runner-up. Towering at the center of it all, the 6鈥� 8鈥� Dan was a stronghold on both defense and offense.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be a part of the team that put 91短视频 on the map as a great men鈥檚 volleyball program,鈥� Dan said. 鈥淚t felt great. Our team accomplished something that no other team before us could do, and to be a part of history feels amazing. It makes me hungry for next year because I know we can win the tournament and I won鈥檛 settle for anything less.鈥�
Dan has one year of eligibility left to play volleyball as a Royal. With a majority of the key players returning next year, he foresees another deep run and a possible title, which would be a first for an 91短视频 team.
Dan is a biochemistry major and upon graduation will be pursuing a pharmaceutical degree.