Now in a new conference, men’s volleyball looks to continue the same

By Craig Epstein | Published March 1, 2018

After a 76-match league winning streak and six-straight Skyline Conference championships, the Kean Men’s volleyball team entered the 2018 season as the newest member of the Continental Valley Conference (CVC). Couple that with being tabbed 11th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll and picked to finish first in the East division of the CVC, expectations are high for Head Coach Charlie Ginex’s squad.

“Moving over from the Skyline to the CVC will certainly provide a tremendous challenge as the CVC is arguably the best conference in the country for Men’s Volleyball,” Ginex said. “We expect that there will be no easy matches throughout conference play, but we also know that the rigors of the CVC will also hopefully help us to be more prepared for the final month of the season”

While being successful in the new conference is important for the reigning Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Coach of the Year, he is more focused on his team handling the simple things. He feels that as long as they are able to do that, then the winning will come as a result.

“We hope to have a good season, but good is not defined in this case as winning, we are hoping to work hard each and everyday and have fun while doing it,” Ginex said. “We feel if we do that then the byproduct can and hopefully will be to allow us to contend for a conference championship”

After six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the Cougars are continually motivated to return and make a deep run in it.

“A main goal of ours every year is the obvious one to win a national championship,” senior middle blocker Jared Warner said. “But more realistic goals have been talked about this season.”

Much like his coach, Warner also believes that as long as the team works hard and has fun, the winning will come. He also feels that the team is ready for everything the CVC has to offer.

“Transitioning from the Skyline to the CVC is a huge jump, the competition level is one that mostly everyone is taking notice to,” Warner said. “But we have been putting in countless hours in prep to grab another conference championship this year.”

Now that they are playing teams like Juniata College, Eastern Mennonite, and Marymount University, the competition for the Cougars has become much stiffer. As a result, the team is focused on getting on the same page and using each moment as a teaching one.

“The main good thing that I think came out of this is the fact that everyone bought into the system this year and knows what it will take,” Warner said. “The coaching staff and players are getting on the same track with film and what they are trying to teach us from their knowledge.”

For senior libero Steve Schrank, he views this season as an opportunity for Kean to show just how good they really are.

“We need to make a statement to the country and show what Kean volleyball is all about,” Schrank said. “If we play our game and continue to progress then we’re going to be a tough team to stop when it comes down to it.”

Although playing in the CVC is going to present a whole new set of challenges, Schrank is confident that they will mold them into becoming the team that they think they can be.

“The transition to the CVC is definitely going to be a challenge,” Schrank said. “But playing tougher teams consistently is going to make us better everyday and guide us to our ultimate goal, winning a national championship.”

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