Jay Hosack, the first-season head coach of George Mason University's men's volleyball team, was named the 2016 Bob Sweeney EIVA Coach of the Year. In addition, six of his players - redshirt senior Dom Edgley, juniors Johnny Gomez, Christian Malias and Radoslav Popov, and redshirt freshman Garrett Kollar - received All-EIVA honors for achievements on and off the court.
“It's an honor and privilege to be called Coach of the Year by your peers and colleagues,” said Hosack, who became the second coach to earn the honor in last three years. “These are all coaches I respect greatly and I am very proud of that title, which I share with my assistant coaches Joe Norton and Sam Pang, who help me drive this bus, and with my players, given how they've played and how they've improved over the year.”
Middle blocker Edgley, who leads the Patriots on the season with 10 solo blocks and .94 blocks per set, and libero Gomez, who leads the NCAA with 2.99 digs per set, were named to the All-EIVA First Team along with eight additional players who are having an outstanding season.
“This is a very humbling honor which allowed me to show myself that when I put hard work, it pays off,” Edgley said. “It also reflects my personal adaptation to the new environment brought to the team by our new coach.”
Gomez is another Patriots who has bloomed over the course of the current campaign despite being limited in action due to heath last year.
“Coming off a knee surgery last year and a new coach coming in this one, I was worried about my place on the team,” said the EIVA Defensive Player of the Week, who has accumulated 260 digs so far this season. “However, with the help and encouragement of my teammates, coaches, family and friends, I worked very hard during the offseason and finally earned a starting spot.”
Outside hitter duo Malias and Popov, on the other hand, were named to the All-EIVA Second Team. For Malias, one of the team's captains, the honor comes in his first full season at the position after he performed at the libero position for the majority of the 2015 campaign. This season, the Orlando, Fla. native has been the second most fielded player for Mason after Gomez and is first among all Patriots in kills, 242. He is also the team's most productive server with 29 aces and was named EIVA Offensive Player of the Week back in January.
“I think the recognition is a testament to the work and commitment that I have put into volleyball over the course of my three years here at George Mason,” he said. “I am super proud of the hard work that my teammates have put forth so far this season and I am glad it is paying off.”
This is the third All-EIVA selection for Popov after he featured on the First Team last two years, in addition to being named the 2014 EIVA Newcomer of the Year.
Middle blocker Kollar, along with Edgley and Popov, were honored for their success in the classroom as well and represented the Patriots on the 2016 EIVA All-Academic team, which recognizes returning students who have at least 3.5 GPA while also taking part of at least 60% of their team's sets.
“When I came from Bulgaria, I embraced the challenge that I have to impress as a student as much as an athlete,” Popov said. “After three years as an All-EVA selection and two years as an All-Academic selection, this is all I have fought for and all I could want.”
Kollar, for whom this is the first honor of this kind, added: “It took me a while to figure [the balance of academics and volleyball], but I prioritize everything that I do and make sure I focus on the task at hand.
“It means everything to me that I received this honor and will work towards earning it for the rest of my college career.”
