MVB: Garcia and Norris Take Home Major GNAC Awards
The Lasers had a historic season, going 17-12 overall and defeating two nationally ranked teams. The Lasers took home two major GNAC awards, while 4 other players were also honored.
Jesus Garcia repeats as the GNAC Setter of the Year, winning the honor in 2023 and 2024. Garcia ran the Lasers offense, which was ranked second in the conference with a .292 hitting percentage. That figure ranked in the top-15 in all of NCAA Division III at the end of the regular season. He earned GNAC Setter of the Week honors twice over the course of the season. He averaged 8.82 assists per-set and tallied 829 assists on the season. Garcia currently sits with 3,419 career assists, placing him second overall in program history.
Aidan Norris also took home a major GNAC award earning the Rookie of the Year title. Norris appeared in 61 sets for the Lasers, recording 109 kills on the season. His hitting percentage of .317 placed him in the GNAC top-10. Norris' season also placed him on the GNAC All-Conference 3rd Team and the All Rookie Team.
Jan Baranowski and Theo Zaharewicz earned GNAC 1st Team honors for the Lasers. Baranowski played in 84 sets and tallied 159 kills on the season, with a hitting percentage of .393. Zaharewicz lead the Lasers offense with 286 kills on the season, averaging 3.04 kills per-set and a hitting percentage of .291.
Brenden Joyce got the nod for GNAC 2nd Team. Joyce was ranked 7th overall in the GNAC with 252 kills. Joyce finished the season with 2.57 kills per-set, a hitting percentage of .273, and 151 digs.
Cole Esterline joins Norris on the All Rookie team. Esterline played in 16 matches for the Lasers, collecting 42 kills and a hitting percentage of .325.
