PITMAN, N.J. (4/24/26) – The Kean University men's volleyball team collected three major awards along with four All-Conference selections as announced by the conference office on Friday.
Chris Mitchell has been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Year, while
Tyler Quinn has been tabbed Defensive Player of the Year for the third year in a row and
Bez Arslani along with his coaching staff (
Michael Fox,
Jenna Lara,
Bill Lee, and
Leandro Perez) were named Coaching Staff of the Year.
Mitchell and Quinn were first team selections along with
David Flores.
Aidan Flinn was named to the Honorable Mention.
Mitchell collected the conference's top honor and his second straight first team selection after totaling 495 points, 431 kills, 219 digs and 70 blocks over 31 matches. The Howell, N.J. native averaged 4.27 points per set, 3.72 kills per set and 1.89 digs per set. The outside hitter was a three-time NJAC Player of the Week selection and was named an AVCA National Player of the Week in March. Mitchell becomes just the third player in program history, joining
Ian Capp (2019) and
Jared Ray (2020).
Quinn earns the conference's top defensive honor and his second straight first team selection after totaling 361 digs over 31 matches. The junior libero averaged 3.14 digs per set and was a three-time NJAC Defensive Player of the Week selection. Quinn becomes the first player in program history to earn back-to-back-to-back honors from the NJAC.
Coach Arslani and his staff collect the conference's top honor on the coaching staff side. The coaching staff guided the Cougars to a 4-0 record and their first NJAC title since 2019.
Flores earns his first all-conference selection after being selected to the first team. The Setter totaled 1,047 assists and 242 digs over 31 matches. The Parlin, N.J. native averaged 9.10 assists per set and 2.10 digs per set. The senior was a one-time NJAC Defensive Player of the Week selection.
Flinn earns his first all-conference selection after being selected to the honorable mention. The outside hitter totaled 239.5 points, 224 digs, 199 kills and 42 blocks over 27 matches. The East Northport, N.Y. native averaged 2.92 points per set, 2.38 kills per set and 0.62 blocks per set. The senior was a one-time NJAC Defensive Player of the Week selection.
