Men's Volleyball: Three Lasers named to AVCA Division III All-Northeast Region team

Link: AVCA Release

NEWTON, Mass. - Brenden Joyce, Jesus Garcia and Jordan Shinaut became the first-ever student-athletes with the Lasell University men's volleyball program to earn American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III All-Northeast Region team honors, while Shinaut also took home the AVCA's Northeast Region Newcomer of the Year accolade.

Every team in the country is divided into four regions: North, East, Northeast and West. The All-Region teams are made up of the 14 best players in each region. Each region is made up of multiple conferences and independent teams. Being named to an All-Region team is essentially the middle ground between All-Conference and All-American honors. These are the biggest honors for the program since current Head Coach Jeff Vautrin '17 was named to the All-ECAC team as a player in 2015.

Garcia and Shinaut were named to the GNAC All-Conference first team, while Joyce represented the Lasers (22-9, 14-2 GNAC) on the third team. Shinaut was also recognized as the conference's Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Rookie team after taking home the final seven GNAC Rookie of the Week awards. Garcia earned GNAC All-Sportsmanship team honors.

The Lasers defeated No. 1-ranked Springfield, 3-1, on March 1 in the Athletic Center, marking the first time the team has ever defeated the Pride and also the first time in program history defeating the top-ranked team in the country. Lasell also gutted out a 3-1 triumph over then-No. 5-ranked Wentworth on Feb. 19 in the Athletic Center. The unit nailed down the second seed in the GNAC tournament and advanced to its fourth conference championship game since 2011.

Shinaut compiled double-digit kills in 18 matches and posted career-highs of 18 kills during victories over Rivier and Colby-Sawyer on March 19 and April 2. 

Shinaut finished with hitting percentages of .500 or higher in six matches. He compiled five total blocks or more four times and seven or more digs on three occasions. Shinaut ranks fourth in the GNAC in total kills (299), kills per set (3.48) and hitting percentage (.326), while sitting in a tie for fifth in solo blocks with 17.

"Jordan Shinaut has had himself a standout freshman season," said Vautrin. "He has shown dominance at the net in our conference and in the nation. If Jordan works hard in the offseason, there is no doubt in my mind he will be a force to reckon with for many years to come."

Garcia earned GNAC Defensive and Offensive Player of the Week on Feb. 14 and 21, respectively. The Honolulu, Hawaii, native compiled 40 or more assists six times and reached double figures in digs during seven matches. He is tied for second in the GNAC for most assists (819) and ranks third in assists per set (8.27).

Garcia tallied a season-high 46 assists during a 3-1 triumph over Elizabethtown on Feb. 26, and then recorded a season-best 14 digs in a 3-2 victory over Rivier on March 27. Garcia was named to the GNAC All-Tournament team on April 9.

"Jesus Garcia led our offense all year and was a phenomenal leader for our program." said Vautrin. "Jesus is considered as one of the top setters in the region and considered by many coaches as one of the best out-of-system setters in the country."

Joyce took home the conference's Defensive Player of the Week accolade on March 7. The Randolph, Massachusetts, native registered a season-high 18 kills against St. Joseph's (L.I.) on Jan. 15. During a 3-1 victory over No. 1-ranked Springfield on March 1, he filled up the box score with 14 kills, seven digs and five total blocks. Joyce earned GNAC All-Tournament team honors on April 9.

"Brenden Joyce has one of the strongest mindsets within our program," said Vautrin. "His determination to play every point like it is game point and his motivating energy is something that we value every day. He was consistent for us all year and was one of our keys pieces in many of our big wins this season."

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

-

For continuing coverage of Laser athletics, stay up to date with our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram