Despite past success Kean Men’s volleyball looks to keep focus on what lies ahead

Coming off of a historic 2018 season in which they won a conference title, the Kean Men’s Volleyball team enters their second season in the Continental Valley Conference (CVC) with a target on their back. Picked to finish first in the CVC preseason poll, the Cougars were victorious in a program record 34 matches last season and set a new longest winning streak at 28 matches and made their seventh straight appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Although it is difficult to describe their season as being an unsuccessful one, the Cougars fell short of the ultimate prize of an NCAA title, failing to get past Vassar College in the quarterfinals. So although being picked to finish first in just their second season in a new conference is a high honor for Kean, they see this season as a new opportunity that presents new challenges as well.

Jay Bynum (junior) knocking the ball over the net. Photo Courtesy of Larry Levanti.

“It means a lot to be picked to finish first in the conference, but words mean nothing, actions speak louder than words,” junior setter Ian Capp said. “The challenges it presents is that we have a chip on our shoulder, which means people will want to play harder against us and have more incentive to beat us. Every game will be a battle, in and out of conference, especially since we have a much tougher schedule than in years past.”

Capp represents one of the 12 members from the Kean men’s volleyball team that were named to the 2018 CVC All-Academic Team, a record amongst schools in the conference.

Even though Kean’s ultimate goal is to hoist an NCAA title and continue their now storied success, there is a little more added incentive for the Cougars to do it this year considering the fact that both the final four and championship game will be hosted in Harwood Arena.

“Our goals for the season are to win the conference and to make the final four at the least because we are hosting the NCAAs this year,” Capp said. “A lot of work in practices and staying disciplined during matches is the only way we will be able to make a run for the championship.”

Since handing the head coaching reins from Don Perkins over to Charlie Ginex, the men’s volleyball program has posted a 148-33 record ranging from 2014-18. And now 15 matches into the 2019 season, the Cougars have jumped out to a 10-2 record with a key win on Feb. 1 when they defeated the #2 team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Stevens Institute of Technology.

Ian Capp (junior) setting the ball up for Kamil Garbowski (senior). Photo Courtesy of Larry Levanti.

Even though his teams have been so successful year-after-year, the 2018 CVC Coach of the Year still sees every season as a brand new journey that will present new opportunities along the way.

“We are still in the beginning stages of what is a long journey each year,” Ginex said. “So far we have grown in many ways and each day presents a new opportunity to move forward.”

Now in his sixth season as head coach, Ginex looks to add to his resume and lead the Cougars to an NCAA championship that they can celebrate on their own home court. He also wants to turn everything that comes to be into a teaching moment so that they can become even better than they were before.

“Our goals remain the same each and every season, that being to continue to move in a positive direction with success and failure being teachable moments,” Ginex said. “If we learn from each we will find ourselves in a good place when we need to be.”