Jack Freese Earns NJAC Rookie of the Week

By Hector Morales | Published February 16, 2023

Kean University spring semester is underway and the men’s volleyball season has officially begun in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and the Continental Volleyball Conference. 

The Cougars are looking forward to having a successful season and one player that stands out to be promising for the Cougars is freshman middle blocker and right-side hitter, Jack Freese. 

On Jan. 27, Freese was named NJAC Rookie of the Week for the first time in his college volleyball career and he was amazed by what he accomplished in week one of this volleyball season. 

“At first I was mostly just surprised,” Freese said. “I shared this award with my friends and family and I was proud to show it to them.” 

The freshman currently has a .379 hitting percentage, the highest in the NJAC. He is also top three in the conference in kills with 37, and his 43.5 points have earned him sixth in the conference in points scored. 

Freese has been playing volleyball since the summer before his freshman year of high school. Ever since he started to improve during his senior year of high school, he has committed to play college volleyball.  

Head Coach and former Cougar outside hitter, Bez Arslani,  said he is proud of Freese’s accomplishment and he is eager to see what he and other rookies can do the rest of the season. 

“The NJAC is pretty powerful this year and Jack is one of our powerful hitters,”Arslani said. “I’m looking forward to him getting more in the future and hopefully get other players on the team earning NJAC Rookie of the Week as well.”  

The team’s chemistry has been improving for the Cougars as Freese enjoys playing with his new teammates. 

“The team’s chemistry is really coming along and they look like one unit out there,” Arslani said. “When you come to the games and you’re watching them live, the bench is just as energetic as the guys on the court.”

Freese looks forward to having a successful rookie season and he hopes he becomes the third Cougar to earn NJAC Rookie of the Year. 

“My goal right now is to get at least seven rookie of the week awards and if possible earn the rookie of the year award,” Freese said. 

The Cougars won their first game against The College of Old Westbury 3-0 after losing their first three matches to start the season. But this is just the beginning for the Cougars as they hope to get back and win the CVC tournament and reach the NCAA tournament. 

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