FAIRFAX, Va. – Former George Mason men's volleyball Patriot and current San Juan Patriota Paco Velez was named Newcomer of the Year of Puerto Rico's Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino.

Velez took part in 71 sets in his first season as a professional and led the team from the capital with 237 points (3.33 points per set). As a result, his name featured in 35 of the 36 ballots and he gathered 23 first-place votes for a total of 141 points in the running for the award.

"I am very excited [for Paco] and not surprised at all," said Mason head coach Jay Hosack. "He never stopped working to get better while in the gym with us; he was always mastering his craft."

The former Mason opposite hitter became the first player at his position to win the accolade since 2010 and the first member of the Patriotas de San Juan to do so this century.

"Opposites are supposed to do three things really well: hit, block, and serve," Hosack added. "He serves and blocks extremely well and he's getting better and better at the third every single day."

Hosack coached Velez in his last season before graduation, during which the Patriots captured the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association title for the first time since 1988.

Velez, who had 642 kills and 115 service aces over the course of his collegiate career, was followed in the Newcomer of the Year voting by Plataneros de Corozal setter Arturo Iglesias, who had 72 points and five first-place votes, Fajandro's middle blocker Pedro Nieves (66 points, seven first-place votes), teammate Jonathan Martinez (15) and Carolina's Victor Gonzalez (11).