Men's Volleyball: Andler, Bucklin earn AVCA All-America honors
(Lexington, Kentucky) For the first time since 2014 and the fourth time in program history, the Rivier University Men's Volleyball team has multiple representatives on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III All-American team, as announced by the organization on Monday.
Seniors, setter Garrett Bucklin (Jamestown, R.I.) and outside hitter Grant Andler (Chicago, Ill.) were both selected to the AVCA All-American Second Team after being named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) First Team last week. Both were named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team, while Bucklin being named the Tournament MVP after the Raiders' GNAC Championship win over Wentworth to claim a NCAA Tournament berth.
Bucklin was a major reason why the Raiders reclaimed the GNAC Championship for the first time since 2014 and eighth conference title overall. He dished out over 1000 assists (1,015) as the team recorded a .290 hitting percentage and a 26-7 overall record. The versatile four-year member appeared in 97 sets over 30 games including a career high 55-assist night on April 4 at MIT (3-1 Rivier win). He finished the 2018 season with a 10.46 assist per set average which ranks him fourth in the country.
Andler joins Bucklin as they are the sixth and seventh different All-Americans in program history. Another four-year member of the Volleyball team, Andler set a career high with 54 total blocks and 16 block solos for a 0.62 blocks per set average. He also hammered down 279 kills and swung at .381 hitting percentage on the year.
Previous Rivier Men's Volleyball AVCA All-Americans include Aaron Almario (1st Team 2014, 2nd Team 2013, 2nd Team 2012), Matt Bynon (2nd Team 2014), Chris Markuson (Honorable Mention 2014), Jared Andreozzi (2nd Team 2010, 2nd Team 2009), Matt Ferreira (2nd Team 2010, 2nd Team 2009) and Andy Chace (1st Team 2006, 1st Team 2005, 2nd Team, 2004).
The All-America awards will be presented at the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship banquet on April 26 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The complete list and official release of the AVCA All-America Team can be found here: https://www.avca.org/awards/all-regional-all-america-awards/diii-men.html