Men's Volleyball

Rutgers-Newark's Derek Au Named NJAC Player of the Year; Men's Volleyball All-Conference Announced

PITMAN, NJ --- Rutgers University-Newark graduate student Derek Au (Orlando, FL/Timber Creek) has been named the 2025 NJAC Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year to headline the all-conference selections. Kean University sophomore Tyler Quinn (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight year, while Rutgers-Newark freshman Massimo Roco (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) collects Rookie of the Year accolades.
 
Their honors highlight the 12-member NJAC Men’s Volleyball All-Conference Team. Selections were based on overall season statistics by a vote of the league’s four head coaches.
 
Au wraps up a decorated career as a three-time NJAC All-Conference honoree. In addition to NJAC Player of the Year, he was also named the CVC Setter of the Year. The Florida native finished the season ranked third in the NJAC in assists per set (9.82) and in the top five in service aces per set (0.34). The dynamic setter also registered 1.71 digs per set, totaling 192 with only two reception errors. Au also chipped in nearly a kill per set while hitting .238. He was both the Week 6 NJAC Player of the Week and Week 11 NJAC Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Quinn earns the league’s highest defensive honor for the second time in as many seasons. The sophomore libero led all NJAC players with 2.89 digs per set on the season. He posted a season-best 26 scoops in a four-set match against Rutgers-Newark and tallied 10 or more digs in 13 different matches this season.
 
Roco, also the AVCA Region III Newcomer of the Year, made an immediate impact on a Rutgers-Newark squad that won another NJAC title. A three-time NJAC Rookie of the Week and also the CVC Rookie of the Year, the middle blocker led the NJAC in blocks per set (0.89), totaling 106. He recorded a career-best 11 blocks in a win over Elmira. He also ranked second in the NJAC with a sizzling .391 hitting percentage, third in service aces per set (0.37), and eighth in points per set (3.08).
 
Rutgers-Newark head coach Aidan Albrecht and his staff including Andrew Zaleck, Daniel Quay, and Eric Szukiewicz were named the NJAC Coaching Staff of the Year after leading their squad to a 24-10 record. Under their leadership, the Scarlet Raiders won their fifth consecutive NJAC title and went on to win the ECAC Championship title. They also mentored two major award winners in Au and Roco, and a total of four all-conference selections this season.
 

2025 NJAC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL ALL-CONFERENCE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Derek Au, Rutgers-Newark

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tyler Quinn, Kean

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Massimo Roco, Rutgers-Newark

COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR
Rutgers-Newark
(Aidan Albrecht, Andrew Zaleck, Daniel Quay, Eric Szukiewicz)

 
 
FIRST TEAM 
Name School Yr. Pos. Hometown/High School
Derek Au^* Rutgers-Newark GR S Orlando, FL/Timber Creek
JoJo Meyer* Ramapo SR S Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst
Chris Mitchell Kean JR RS Howell, NJ/Howell
Marcus Pardasie* NJCU SO OH Paramus, NJ/Cresskill
Matt Peralta NJCU FR OH Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack
Tyler Quinn+ Kean SO L Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley
Massimo Roco Rutgers-Newark FR MB Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge
Alex Solodky Rutgers-Newark FR OH Austin, TX/Westlake
         
HONORABLE MENTION      
Name School Yr. Pos. Hometown/High School
Alex Casais NJCU JR S Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne
Reece Kirchofer+ Ramapo SR OH Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills
Aleks Kolodziej* Rutgers-Newark SO OPP Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge
Daniel Pugliano Kean JR MB Jefferson, NJ/Jefferson Township