ERIE, Pa. – Penn State Behrend men's volleyball senior libero Adrian Martinez (San Juan, PR/Wesleyan Academy) has been named the 2023 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Co-Player of the Year and head coach Phil Pisano garnered Coach of the Year honors to highlight the All-Conference Team.
Martinez, the Preseason Player of the Year, is earning his first Player of the Year honors for the Lions, while Pisano was chosen Coach of the Year for the second straight season and fifth time overall. Martinez was named to the first team along with juniors Owen Wienczkowski (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) and Alex Jackson (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton). Senior Dylan Buzalka (Carlisle, PA/Cumberland Valley) was selected to the second team.
Martinez, a three-time All-Conference first-team selection, led the AMCC in digs per set (3.55) and total digs (334) this season. His digs per set also ranks him fourth in NCAA Division III statistics. Martinez registered double-digit digs in 19 matches, recording a career-high 24 in a four-set win over St. Vincent. The senior libero also broke the program's all-time career digs record, sitting at 951 digs in his four years. Martinez was named to the AMCC All-Tournament Team for posting 35 digs and five assists in the conference championships.
Wienczkowski landed on the first team after being selected to the second team in 2022. For a second straight year, the junior middle hitter ranks first in the AMCC in attack percentage (.329) and is also first in blocks per set (0.90). Wienczkowski leads the team in blocks with 76 and is second on the team with 191 kills. He tallied double-digit kills in nine matches, posting a career-high 18 in a five-set win at Hiram Wienczkowski also tied a career-high seven blocks at Thiel.
Jackson was the lone setter named to the first team. He is earning his first all-conference honors after leading the team and the AMCC in total assists with 769. Jackson ranked second in the league in assists per set (8.45) while landing ninth in total blocks (55). The junior posted four double-doubles, including a career-high 48 assists and 19 digs vs. Geneva during the regular season. He was named to the AMCC All-Tournament Team for posting 73 assists and 27 digs in the conference championships. Jackson registered a career-high 20 digs in the championship match.
Buzalka is earning his first All-AMCC accolades on the second team. The senior outside hitter leads the team and was 12th in the AMCC in total kills (200). Buzalka ranks second on the squad and ninth in the conference in digs (189). He recorded four double-doubles, knocking down a career-high 15 kills and 24 digs in a 3-1 win over Geneva. Buzalka also added 43 blocks and 22 aces this season.
