FLUSHING, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College freshman outside hitter David Heyliger, Jr. was selected Friday as a 2020 CUNYAC Men's Volleyball First-Team All-Star following a standout rookie campaign.  The first-team nod makes Heyliger, Jr. the program's first-ever freshman to receive the distinction. Senior Juan Rodriguez represented York as a member of the CUNYAC Sportsmanship Team.

As York's sixth first-team selection in eight seasons, Heyliger, Jr. was twice named a CUNYAC Rookie of the Week honoree during a year that he ranked among the league leaders in points per set (6th, 3.35), points (8th, 140.5), kills (8th, 114), kills per set (7th, 2.71), aces per set (2nd, 0.43) and aces (T-4th, 18).  

Seeing time in all 13 of York's matches, Heyliger, Jr. produced a career-high 28 points, 21 kills and five blocks during a five-set triumph against Yeshiva University for the team's season-best second-straight win.  He also recorded career-highs of four aces versus King's College (PA) and 13 digs in the season-finale against Colby-Sawyer College. The 13 digs were paired with 13 kills to register his first-career double-double in a match that saw him post 16 points.  

Hailing from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Heyliger, Jr. concluded his rookie season as the CUNYAC leader in kills-3 sets (21), kills-5 sets (21), aces 5-sets (3), blocks-5 sets (5) and total attempts 3-sets (34).  He also ranked among the CUNYAC match leaders in kills 3-sets (3rd, 12), total attempts (2nd, 50), total attempts 3-sets (T-1st, 34), digs (T-2nd, 13), aces (T-4th, 4), blocks (T-2nd, 5) and digs 4-sets (2nd, 13)

Playing in 42 of the team's 43 sets, Heyliger, Jr. ranked among the NCAA Division III leaders in points per set (80th), aces per set (49th), kills per set (97th) and attacks per set (37th, 8.50).   

Rogriguez, a libero/setter from Santiago, Dominican Republic, is York's sixth CUNYAC Sportsmanship recognition in as many seasons.  As one of seven members of the Sportsmanship Team, Rodriguez played in all 43 of York's sets during a season that saw him compile career-highs in digs per set (1.49) while leading the team in assists per set (3.3) and assists (142).  

"Juan is a team leader and a team player who represents the program as a model student-athlete both on and off the court.  He is the type of player that every coach would love to coach as he consistently supports his teammates to remain motivated.  When officials and opposing coaches talk to me about Juan's respect for the game, that is something coaches love to hear over wins," said York head coach Andre M. Titus, Jr. 

2020 CUNYAC/Pepsi Men's Volleyball First-Team All-Stars
Artem Zinkin (Baruch)
Kyrstian Surdel (John Jay)
Peter Veljovic (Lehman)
David Heyliger, Jr. (York)
Jack Nugent (John Jay)
Alec Helford (Hunter)

2020 CUNYAC/Pepsi Men's Volleyball Second-Team All-Stars
Jonathan Liao (CCNY) 
Blake Hogan (Hunter)
Cyrus De Guzman (Hunter)
Enmanuel Jaquez (Medgar Evers)
Carlos Maldonado Madrid (CCNY)
Christian Maisonet (Hunter)
Alejandro Gallardo (John Jay)

Player of the Year: Meni Musheyev (Baruch)
Libero of the Year: Jonathan Liao (CCNY)
Rookie of the Year: Vukasin Bozic (CCNY)
Sportsmanship Award: Jovan Scott (Medgar Evers)

All-Sportsmanship Team
Hanbin Lee (Baruch)
Brian Fok (Brooklyn)
Andrew Chan (CCNY)
Sherrod Cole (Hunter)
Manuel Peralta (John Jay)
Dyvon Webb (Lehman)
Juan Rodriguez (York)

2020 CUNYAC Men's Volleyball All-Stars (Read more)

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