About The Team 

In its eighth year as a program and third under the direction of head coach Sheila Gisbrecht, the men’s volleyball team continues to grow in the competitive North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) New England Division.

In 2009, the Blazers had a record-setting year, as the team won a school-record 20 matches; won the inaugural New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) championship; captured the school's first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship in any sport, and earned, for the second consecutive year, a berth into the NECVA Tournament.

The 2010 team featured a core of eight underclassmen players. The Blazers competed against seven teams that finished in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Top 15 poll including conference rivals Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Endicott College.

Three players were named All NECC, including sophomore setter Mike Martin (Enfield, Conn.) who was named the league’s rookie of the year. Martin, who after one season became the program’s fifth all-time leader in assists (460), also garnered three NECC Rookie of the Week awards. Martin handed out a season-best 50 assists in a 3-1 win over Lesley University, and totaled 136 digs for the year.

Sophomore outside hitter Yonalvy Acosta (Holyoke, Mass.) was voted to the All-NECC First Team. Acosta led the squad with 216 kills, averaging 2.48 per set, was first on the team with 66 total blocks (including 36 solo) and finished second with 179 digs this season. Acosta currently ranks fifth on the program’s all-time block solos list with 41.

Joining Martin on the All-NECC Second Team is freshman outside hitter Stephen Cameron (Newington, Conn.). Cameron is the team-leader in digs (220) and ranked third on the squad with 164 kills. In his first season, Cameron has also contributed 22 total blocks and 29 service aces.

Sophomore opposite hitter Mike Kleckner (Bethlehem, Pa.) was stellar on the service line, downing 33 aces this season. He is also tied for Elms’ individual-match record for aces in a four-set match (eight), and a five-set match (six).

Elms College competes as a member of the NCAA Division III, NECC, and NECVA. Each year the NECVA's postseason tournament champion is granted an automatic bid into the four-team Molten Division III National Championship.