BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - After a championship weekend in Atlantic City, the St. Francis Brooklyn men's volleyball team earned four honors from the Northeast Conference (NEC), including the conference's first Defensive Player of the Week.
Nicola Iannelli was named the First Point Volleyball Foundation NEC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday after helping the Terriers to a pair of wins in the JBJ Events Battle for the Boardwalk Collegiate Showcase.
Iannelli totaled 18 digs and two assists over six sets played against Belmont Abbey and American International. The Fano, Italy native totaled 13 of those assists against Belmont Abbey on Jan. 6. He recorded just two errors on 30 service receptions for a .933 success rate. He was also named a Prime Performer for his efforts.
The Terriers earned three more Prime Performers after a 3-0 weekend, all first time honorees.
Junior setter Matt Mongin started and played all nine sets over a 3-0 weekend for St. Francis against Belmont Abbey, Eastern Nazarene and American International. He totaled 79 assists over nine sets (8.78 a/s), adding five kills, 12 digs and 3 blocks. Mongin currently leads the NEC in assists and assists per set.
In his first competition with St. Francis, freshman Matteo Falleri recorded 16 kills, 2 aces and 2 blocks across five sets against Belmont Abbey and Eastern Nazarene. Falleri currently leads the NEC and St. Francis in points/set (3.80) and kills per set (3.20). He is third among the NEC in digs/set (2.50) through the weekend.
Grad student Canyon Tuman showed his veteran experience in both wins on Jan. 7, logging 13 kills, seven aces, and two blocks in his first time playing right side in college. The Penn State grad leads the NEC with the seven aces.
The Terriers return to action Wednesday night against Springfield College at 6:00 p.m.
