By John Boccacino/Sports Information Director
It takes some programs years to make it into the conference championship game, but the members of Keuka College's men's volleyball team not only qualified for the North Eastern Athletic Conference's (NEAC) postseason championship, the Storm claimed the NEAC title in the program's first year of existence.

Freshman Connor Hinman (Lethbridge, Alberta/Catholic Central) earned Tournament MVP honors after recording a pair of double-doubles as the Storm (12-17) defeated SUNYIT in four sets in the semifinals, then rallied past top-seeded Lancaster Bible College in four sets to claim the championship Saturday afternoon in Lancaster, Pa.

Hinman, a first-team All-NEAC selection as an outside hitter, compiled 34 digs, 19 kills, 8 blocks and 2 service aces while Keuka managed a pair of impressive blocking performances in avenging three regular-season losses to SUNYIT and two setbacks to Lancaster Bible to claim the title.

Junior Devin Lesch (San Diego, CA/El Cajon Valley) totaled 13 blocks, 11 kills and 6 digs, freshman Tom Campbell (Penfield, NY/Penfield) added 18 blocks, 12 kills and 4 aces and sophomore Manny Fernandez (Tacoma, WA/Spanaway) compiled 19 digs, 17 kills and 8 blocks for Keuka, which won seven of its last nine matches en route to the championship.

Keuka had to rally from one-set deficits in both the semifinals and the championship match. The Green and Gold got by SUNYIT (10-18) by scores of 24-26, 25-22, 25-23 and 25-20, and defeated Lancaster Bible (16-16) by scores of 26-28, 25-14, 26-24 and 25-20.

The Storm's blocking was particularly impressive in both matches. Keuka had 18 total team blocks (five solo and 26 assisted) against IT, then followed up with 22 total blocks (seven solo, 30 assisted) in the championship match.

Leading 25-24 in the fourth set against Lancaster, sophomore Krystian Lucey (Barrington, NH/Coe-Brown Northwood Academy) came up with a huge block to clinch the championship for Keuka.

"Our blocking was outrageous today, it definitely affected our opponents quite a bit," said Ben Guiliano, Keuka's first-year head coach who also led the Storm women to the NEAC championship before falling to Gallaudet in three sets.

"We  took them out of their rhythm and they started making a lot of hitting mistakes and changing what they were trying to do. They took more readable shots and allowed us to get good digs and transition points. Our blocking was a major part of what we did today. We played really good defense but our digging was aided by the strong blocking."

Hinman posted 14 digs with 11 kills, 5 blocks and 1 ace while Lesch had 6 kills, 9 blocks and 3 digs against SUNYIT. Lesch hit .235 for the match with only two errors in 17 attempts, while Campbell had 6 kills, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 2 aces and 2 digs and Fernandez added 11 digs, 5 kills and 4 blocks.

Sophomore Ryan Kelly (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) added 31 assists, 11 digs and 2 blocks while freshman Josh Makin (Lethbridge, Alberta/Catholic Central) had 11 digs, 6 kills and 6 blocks in the semifinal.

Keuka led the first set 21-18, but IT closed out the set on an 8-3 run to take a 1-0 lead.

In the second, the Green and Gold trailed 19-15, but went on a 7-3 run and evened the match, then trailing 23-22 in the third, the Storm won the final three points to take a 2-1 lead.

Keuka, which led 20-18 in the fourth set, won five of the last seven points to advance into the title game.

Facing Lancaster, Fernandez had 12 kills and only one error in 33 attempts (.333 attack percentage) as the Storm hit .209 as a team, including .391 in the second set and .345 in the fourth set.

Fernandez added eight digs and four blocks, Hinman recorded 20 digs (his third 20-plus dig match of the year), 18 kills and 3 blocks and Campbell had 13 total blocks, 6 kills and 2 aces for the Storm.

Makin added 11 blocks, 4 kills and 4 digs, Kelly chipped in with 41 assists and 12 digs and Lesch added 5 kills, 4 blocks and 3 digs.

Hinman sported a .316 hitting percentage after only six errors in 38 attempts while freshman Christopher Mooring (Chesapeake, VA/Hickory), who served as Keuka's libero for the playoff matches, had 11 digs in the title game.

"Christopher played fantastic for us, his defense was as big a reason why we won as anything," Guiliano said. "Mooring was excellent with his serve-receive and his defense and he really gave us a big lift today. This was a fun victory and we're definitely excited about winning the championship. We feel like we accomplished something special."