OTB launches VolleyGov Elections to decide best player in each state

It will be up to the nation to determine the best college men’s volleyball player in each state.

Off the Block announced Friday that it will launch the 2020 Men’s VolleyGov Elections starting this weekend.

The VolleyGov Elections recognize the top current college men’s volleyball players from each state and give fans the opportunity to decide the best players through voting on the Off the Block website.

Players considered for a VolleyGov must be on a team’s current roster and are only eligible for the election race of the state where their hometown is located.

Each NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball conference — Big West, ConfCarolinas, EIVA, MIVA and MPSF — along with the group independent teams will have one player on the ballot for each state’s VolleyGov race. In addition, one player from NCAA Division III men’s volleyball teams and one player from NAIA men’s volleyball teams will be included on the state ballots.

Conferences that did not have a player from a state were omitted from that specific ballot.

Off the Block determined every player on the ballots using a variety of factors, including national honors and the player’s college performance in recent seasons.

Voting in the VolleyGov Elections will start Sunday and will conclude at 10 p.m. (CST) Monday. All voting will take place on the Off the Block website and individuals will be limited to voting once per day.

Off the Block is a national award winning website that launched in 2011 and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage.

Alabama Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Division III: Dawn Johnson, St. Joseph’s Brooklyn (Appeared in four matches last season)
NAIA: Jordan Pierce, Cumberland (All-conference)

Alaska Men’s VolleyGov candidates

NAIA: Jordan Wagner, Graceland (NAIA top 20 with .353 attack percent in 2019)

Arizona Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Jonny Bowles, UC Irvine (Seven aces last season)
ConfCarolinas: Nathan Chaparro, Barton (Appeared in six matches last season)
Independents: Cody Nix, Queens (.302 attack percentage and 34 blocks last season)
MIVA: Ryan Serrano, McKendree (Second-Team All-MIVA; 8.38 assists per game last season)
MPSF: Cole Udall, Grand Canyon (1.04 digs per game average last season)
Division III: Matthew Geiser, Concordia-Chicago (15 aces last season)
NAIA: Bobby Henige, Benedictine-Mesa (First-Team All-American)

California Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Joel Schneidmiller, UC Irvine (Second-Team All-American; nation’s top 25 with a 3.60 kills per game average)
ConfCarolinas: Joshua Kim, King (2.76 kills per game average last season)
EIVA: Will Bantle, Penn State (Second-Team All-EIVA; 11th in nation with a 2.28 digs per game average)
Independents: Tristan Santoyo, Queens (All-Independent Team; nation’s top 20 with a 3.67 kills per game average last season)
MIVA: Garrett Zolg, Loyola (2019 First-Team All-MIVA; second in nation with a 10.86 assists per game average in 2019)
MPSF: Raymond Barsemian, Concordia-Irvine (Eighth in nation with a 4.07 kills per game average)
Division III: Jarrett Anderson, Springfield (First-Team All-American)
NAIA: Kyle Anema, Vanguard (First-Team All-American)

Colorado Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Independents: Brison Owens, Limestone (Appeared in seven matches last season)
MIVA: Hayden Frear, McKendree (Appeared in five matches last season)
MPSF: Karter Rogers, Grand Canyon (Freshman in 2021)
Division III: Ian Carlson, Wentworth (Regional All-American)
NAIA: Rowdy Martin, Cardinal Stritch (CCAC Freshman of Year, ninth in NAIA averaging 9.86 assists per game)

Connecticut Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Brandon Baker, North Greenville (2.16 kills per game average last season)
EIVA: Ardian Kodzodziku, Sacred Heart (Appeared in two matches last season)
Independents: Timothy Walsh, St. Francis-Brooklyn (14 blocks last season)
Division III: AJ Genova, Lesley (2.60 kills per game average and 2.14 digs per game average last season)
NAIA: Bart van der Mark, Trinity Christian (2.22 kills per game average last season)

Delaware Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Division III: Conner Kolek, Neumann (1.75 kills per game average and 2.52 digs per game average last season)

Florida Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Marc Moody, Long Beach State (.459 attack percentage and a 0.91 blocks per game average last season)
ConfCarolinas: Jack Sarnowski, King (8.22 assists per game average last season)
EIVA: Timothy McIntosh, Florida (First-Team All-EIVA; nation-best 3.09 digs per game average)
Independents: JP Payne, Queens (.365 attack percentage and 28 blocks last season)
MIVA: Richie Diedrich, Purdue Fort Wayne (Second-Team All-MIVA; fifth in nation with a 1.26 blocks per game average last season)
MPSF: Heath Hughes, Grand Canyon (Sixth in nation with a 10.29 assists per game average last season)
Division III: Ryan Duchemin, Vassar (All-UVC Honorable Mention; .395 attack percentage last season)
NAIA: John Montalvo, Campbellsville (First-Team All-American)

Georgia Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Kyle Ferguson, Belmont Abbey (1.07 blocks per game average last season)
EIVA: Brandon Ravelo, Charleston (Appeared in 10 matches last season)
Independents: Arthur Amorim, Tusculum (29 blocks last season)
Division III: Gavin van Beveren, Vassar (First-Team All-American)
NAIA: Chase Cross, Reinhardt (2.47 kills per game average last season)

Hawaii Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Colton Cowell, Hawai’i (Second-Team All-American; nation’s top 15 with a 3.77 kills per game average last season)
ConfCarolinas: Sili Coffin, Erskine (Appeared in one match in 2019)
EIVA: Buddy Scott, Harvard (Appeared in one match last season)
Independents: Gannon Chinen, Alderson Broaddus (Freshman in 2011)
MIVA: Robert Oliver Jr., Lewis (Appeared in one match last season)
MPSF: Wil Stanley, BYU (First-Team All-American; third in nation with a 10.74 assists per game average last season)
Division III: Liam York, Springfield (All-American Honorable Mention)
NAIA: Nakuluai Morando, Judson (NAIA top 25 with 226 kills last season)

Idaho Men’s VolleyGov candidates

MIVA: Kaman Curtis, Quincy (Appeared in three matches last season)
Division III: Ben Barrus, Southern Virginia (Appeared in four matches last season)

Illinois Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Paul Rzepniewski, CSUN (27 blocks and .432 attack percentage last season)
ConfCarolinas: Andrew Kohut, Belmont Abbey (2.95 kills per game average last season)
EIVA: Richie Hoff, George Mason (2.59 kills per game average last season)
Independents: AJ Risavy, Lincoln Memorial (All-Independent Team; nation’s top 15 with a 9.93 assists per game average last season)
MIVA: Tyler Mitchem, Lewis (First-Team All-American; fourth in nation with a .505 attack percentage last season)
MPSF: JT Ardell, Pepperdine (Led MPSF with a 1.31 blocks per game average last season)
Division III: Matt Slvinski, Carthage (First-Team All-American)
NAIA: Grant Ooms, St. Xavier (Second-Team All-American)

Indiana Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Magnas Mahurin, Erskine (Freshman in 2021)
Independents: Milakyi Highsaw, Alderson Broaddus (Freshman in 2021)
MIVA: Evan Gebert, McKendree (Transferred from Lourdes; in NAIA top 25 with a 3.4 kills per game average last season)
Division III: Parker Beale, Trine (2.88 kills per game average last season)
NAIA: Rafael Cruz, Campbellsville (Second-Team All-American)

Iowa Men’s VolleyGov candidates

MPSF: Nicholas Slight, Grand Canyon (Freshman in 2021)
Division III: Derek Wills, Marian (Freshman in 2021)
NAIA: Evan Gaskill, Mount Mercy (Averaged 2.48 kills per game and 2.05 digs per game last season)

Kansas Men’s VolleyGov candidates

NAIA: Alex Taylor, Ottawa-Kansas (43 kills and 16 blocks last season)

Kentucky Men’s VolleyGov candidates

EIVA: Will Andrews, NJIT (Appeared in eight matches last season)
Independents: Cole Campisano, Lincoln Memorial (Freshman; high school all-state selection in 2018)
MPSF: Zach Hendrickson, BYU (Appeared in eight matches last season)
NAIA: Brock Cassin, Thomas More (1.27 kills per game average in 2019)

Louisiana Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Independents: Dane Loup, Tusculum (Freshman; won silver medal at 2019 AAU nationals)

Maryland Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: William Morris, Belmont Abbey (0.77 blocks per game average last season)
EIVA: Andy Chen, Princeton (Appeared in 10 matches during his first three seasons)
Independents: Tom Kait, Tusculum (1.25 kills per game average last season)
MIVA: Samuel Clark, Ohio State (.455 attack percentage and a 0.89 blocks per game average last season)
MPSF: Jaylen Jasper, Stanford (Seventh in nation with a 4.11 kills per game average last season)
Division III: Nate Reynolds, Stevenson (2019 Second-Team All-American; 1.08 blocks per game average last season)

Massachusetts Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Independents: Michael Basile, St. Francis Brooklyn (1.14 digs per game average last season)
Division III: Francis Kokoros, Rivier (2.67 kills per game average last season)
NAIA: Mark Jango, Culver-Stockton (1.86 digs per game average last season)

Michigan Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Division III: Steve Wagner, Maranatha Baptist (2.65 digs per game average last season)
NAIA: Gavin Jonker, Aquinas (Freshman; two-time First-Team All-Region in high school)

Minnesota Men’s VolleyGov candidates

MIVA: Wyatt Dimke, McKendree (First-Team All-MIVA; 12th in nation with a .411 attack percentage last season)
Division III: Aaron Smith, Olivet (2.69 kills per game last season)
NAIA: Derek Owens, Jamestown (Freshman; led high school to inaugural Minnesota state championship)

Missouri Men’s VolleyGov candidates

EIVA: Will Polster, Harvard (Appeared in one match last season)
Independents: James Henneberrry, St. Francis Brooklyn (All-Independent Team; nation’s top 10 with a .413 attack percentage last season)
MIVA: Alex Pappas, Lindenwood (Third in nation with a 1.31 blocks per game last season)
MPSF: Alex Gettinger, Pepperdine (2.06 kills per game average last season)
Division III: Kyle Cohan, Carthage (2.44 digs per game average last season)
NAIA: Jason Harman, Missouri Baptist (10.83 assists per game average last season)

Montana Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Division III: Josiah Corson, Sarah Lawerence (25 kills and 29 digs last season)
NAIA: Caylor Cox, Jamestown (Named to 2020 U.S. Beach Collegiate National Team)

Nebraska Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Clayton Zimmerman, Belmont Abbey (Freshman in 2021)
Division III: Trey Zoucha, Aurora (Appeared in nine matches last season)
NAIA: Sean Kelley, Aquinas (1.29 kills per game average last season)

Nevada Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Absalon Williams, Barton (.327 attack percentage and a 0.75 blocks per game average last season)
Independents: Shaun Kampshoff, Tusculum (2.78 kills per game average last season)
MIVA: Omari Wheeler, Quincy (Nation’s top 25 with a 3.54 kills per game average)
MPSF: Scott Solan, Pepperdine (1.42 kills per game average last season)
Division III: Will Hafen, Juniata (1.87 digs per game average last season)
NAIA: Troy Lance, Ottawa-Kansas (fourth in NAIA with 1.09 blocks per game average last season)

New Hampshire Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Michael Moscatelli, Erskine (Appeared in one match last season)
Division III: Ryan Willette, Northern Vermont (2.25 kills per game average and 2.02 digs per game average last season)

New Jersey Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Brennan Davis, Belmont Abbey (9.24 assists per game average last season)
EIVA: Eric Li, Harvard (2.30 kills per game average last season)
Division III: Andrew Zaleck, Rutgers-Newark (Second-Team All-American)
NAIA: Zachary Narkiewicz, Lawrence Tech (1.70 kills per game average last season)

New Mexico Men’s VolleyGov candidates

MPSF: Nolan Flexen, Grand Canyon (Freshman in 2021)
Division III: Eli Hollers, Trine (Appeared in two matches last season)

New York Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Nick Amoruso, UC Santa Barbara (Freshman for 2021 season)
ConfCarolinas: Daniel Cerqua, Belmont Abbey (2.08 digs per game average last season)
EIVA: Campbell Schoenfeld, Harvard (Nation’s top 25 with a 3.58 kills per game average)
Independents: Zach Yerington, Daemen (All-Independent Team; nation’s top 40 with a 3.25 kills per game average)
MIVA: Devin Joslyn, Loyola (2.54 kills per game average last season)
MPSF: Kyle Gear, USC (2.26 kills per game average last season)
Division III: Brennen Brandow, Springfield (First-Team All-American)
NAIA: Oscar Manana, Grand View (NAIA top 15 with a 1.07 blocks per game average and a .430 attack percentage)

North Carolina Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Steven Nalls, Lees-McRae (2.25 digs per game average last season)
Independents: James Born, Tusculum (Transfer; 3.12 kills per game average for Cumberland last season)
Division III: Carter Boliek, Pratt (Appeared in four matches last season)
NAIA: Elijah Miller, Campbellsville (Freshman in 2021)

Ohio Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Jackson Gilbert, North Greenville (3.72 kills per game average last season)
EIVA: Roman Szwabinsky, Saint Francis (Nation’s top 25 with a 8.55 assists per game average)
Independents: Dawson Walker, Lincoln Memorial (All-Independent Team; .381 attack percentage last season)
MIVA: Parker Mikesch, Ohio State (1.64 digs per game average last season)
Division III: Ben Pung, MSOE (3.93 kills per game average last season)
NAIA: Bryce Johnson, Siena Heights (NAIA top 20 with 177 digs last season)

Oklahoma Men’s VolleyGov candidates

MIVA: Grant Johnson, Lindenwood (Redshirted last season)
NAIA: Quaid King, Ottawa Arizona (All-conference)

Oregon Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Independents: Parker Wase, Daemen (Appeared in three matches last season)
Division III: Brad McKnight, Keuka (Second-Team All-Conference; 2.87 kills per game average last season)
NAIA: Joshua Santos, Judson (1.75 kills per game average last season

Pennsylvania Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Gabe Avillion, UC San Diego (13 blocks last season)
ConfCarolinas: Eric Visgitis, Mount Olive (.491 attack percentage and 1.79 kills per game average last season)
EIVA: Hayden Wagner, George Mason (EIVA Second-Team All-Decade; fifth in nation with a 4.26 kills per game average in 2019)
Independents: Michael Krueger, Daemen (8.29 assists per game average last season)
MIVA: Phil Swartz, Lindenwood (2.91 kills per game last season
MPSF: Noah Lassandro, Concordia-Irvine (28 kills and 22 blocks last season)
Division III: Logan Smiley, Stevenson (Second-Team All-American)
NAIA: Noah McConville, Judson (Eighth in NAIA with a 3.06 digs per game average last season)

Puerto Rico Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Marco Posada, UC San Diego (Redshirted last season)
ConfCarolinas: Adrian Iglesias, Barton (3.35 kills per game average on a .319 attack percentage last season)
EIVA: Roque Nido, NJIT (Nation’s top 20 with a 9.73 assists per game average)
MIVA: Pelegrin Vargas, Purdue Fort Wayne (First-Team All-MIVA; fourth in nation with a 4.38 kills per game average last season)
MPSF: Gabi Garcia Fernandez, BYU (National Player of the Year; nation-best 0.92 aces per game average and 11th in nation with a 4.00 kills per game average last season)

Rhode Island Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Division III: Gabe Felicetti, Endicott (Regional All-American)

South Carolina Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Douglas Florencio, King (0.82 blocks per game average last season)
Independents: Josh Bragg, Queens (1.78 kills per game average last season)
MIVA: Kaleb Jenness, Ball State (First-Team All-MIVA; sixth in nation with a 4.17 kills per game)

South Dakota Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Division III: Josh McKinstry, Aurora (38 digs last season)

Tennessee Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Independents: Jacob Titus, Lincoln Memorial (1.71 kills per game average last season)
NAIA: Caleb Ginnings, Cumberland (All-conference; sixth in NAIA with a 3.21 digs per game average last season)

Texas Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Michael Urdahl, UC San Diego (Did not appear in a match last season)
ConfCarolinas: Edwin Montaruli, Barton (2.40 digs per game average last season)
EIVA: Parker Dixon, Princeton (Second-Team All-EIVA; 2.77 kills per game average last season)
Independents: Guillermo Jordan, Queens (1.13 digs per game average last season)
MIVA: Jason Gibbs, Lewis (1.84 digs per game average last season)
Division III: Nate Trevino, Colby-Sawyer (1.65 kills per game average last season)
NAIA: Austin Jacob, Jamestown (Fifth in NAIA with a .432 attack percentage)

Utah Men’s VolleyGov candidates

MPSF: Cyrus Fa’alogo, BYU (Redshirted last season after having a career-high 27 kills in 2019)

Vermont Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Division III: Dominic Phelps, Northern Vermont (1.25 kills per game average last season)

Virginia Men’s VolleyGov candidates

ConfCarolinas: Christian Phung, North Greenville (Nation’s top 10 with a 2.32 digs per game average last season)
EIVA: Brett Wildman, Penn State (Co-EIVA Player of the Year; nation’s top 20 with a 3.68 kills per game average)
Independents: Caleb Slater, Tusculum (Transfer; 1.34 kills per game average)
MIVA: Cole Schlothauer, Loyola (MIVA Freshman of the Year; 13th in nation with a 3.79 kills per game average last season)
MPSF: Grayson Browning, Grand Canyon (Appeared in four matches last season)
Division III: Conner Westerfield, Misericordia (2.92 digs per game average last season)
NAIA: Caleb Word, Bluefield (6.33 assists per game average last season)

Washington Men’s VolleyGov candidates

EIVA: Parker Watts, Charleston (Freshman in 2021)
MPSF: Jonathan Carlson, Concordia-Irvine (1.48 digs per game average last season)
Division III: Connor Hinthorn, Cal Luthern (1.81 digs per game average last season)
NAIA: Peyton Young, Webber International (Freshman in 2021)

Washington D.C. Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Division III: Matthew Vandeveire, Penn State-Altoona (2.69 digs per game average last season)

West Virginia Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Independents: Garrett Hamrick, Alderson Broaddus (Appeared in 12 matches last season)

Wisconsin Men’s VolleyGov candidates

Big West: Scott Stadick, UC Irvine (Second-Team All-American; naton-best 2.03 blocks per game average last season)
ConfCarolinas: JT Deppe, King (7.86 assists per game average and 1.72 digs per game average last season)
EIVA: Merit Monogue, George Mason (Redshirted last season)
MIVA: Ryan Coenen, Lewis (First-Team All-American; 11th in nation with a 4.00 kills per game average last season)
MPSF: Jordan Hoppe, Concordia-Irvine (Second-Team All-MPSF; 2.77 kills per game average last season)
Division III: James Althoff, Concordia-Wisconsin (3.78 kills per game average last season)
NAIA: Ben Steffen, Mount Mercy (Second-Team All-American)

Wyoming Men’s VolleyGov candidates

NAIA: Brennan Hager, Ottawa-Kansas (1.63 kills per game average last season)