Four Titans Earn First All-American Honor (4-11-16)
UW-Oshkosh men’s volleyball players Joe Kuchler (Jr. – Muskego), Tony Mack (Jr. – Muskego), Michael Skora (Fr. – Salem) and Michael Starzec (Sr. – Buffalo Grove, Ill.) each were named to the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Division III honorable mention All-American team announced after the championship on Saturday (April 9) in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the first All-America honor for all four recipients.
Mack and Starzec competed for the UW-Oshkosh II team this season, leading the Titans to a fifth place finish at the NCVF Division III national championship. During the year the duo spearheading a team that won their 14th straight Wisconsin Volleyball Conference Division II regular season conference title and their eighth consecutive WVC State Championship crown.
UW-Oshkosh II finished the year with a 36-10 record and beat seven teams, including two that were ranked in the top 25 in the nation that competed at the NCVF Division I level.
Mack, a 6-3 six rotation left side hitter was previously named a WVC Division II First-Team All-Conference selection after leading the league in hitting percentage. He was a starting member of the Titans Division I national championship team after transferring from Cardinal Stritch University in 2015.
“I have said numerous times that Tony is one of the hardest working guys on our team not only on the court, but also in the classroom,” said program head coach Brian Schaefer. “He is a tremendous teammate and player and very deserving of this award.”
Starzec, a 6-7 middle blocker was tough to beat all year both offensively and defensively. He was very effective running plays both in front and behind the setter and his tough blocking at the net caused havoc for the Titans’ opponents all season. Starzec was a WVC Division II First-Team All-Conference honoree this year and like Mack, was a member of the Titans Division I national championship team last season.
“Mike put a lot of time and energy waiting to get his shot as a starter in our program” added Schaefer. “He is a great player, teammate and brought a lot of energy to the team all season. He was a captain for a reason and without his presence on the court the Division II team would not have accomplished such great things all year.”
Kuchler was a passing and defensive juggernaut, and Skora brought unprecedented offensive firepower for the Titans’ UW-Oshkosh III team that set new team standards in 2016. The UW-Oshkosh III team set team history by taking second in the WVC Division II regular season standings, reaching the title game of the state championship and taking fifth place in its first appearance at the NCVF Division III national championship. UW-Oshkosh III finished with a 25-8 record with all but two of their losses coming to either Division I teams or teams ranked in the top five in the NCFV Division III.
The Titans finished 6-1 at the national championship losing only to eventual national champion University of Arizona II and beating national runner-up University of Missouri II, 26-24, 25-19.
Kuchler led the WVC Division II in digs per set and was the stability in the backcourt the Titans needed to be successful this season.
“Joe would be the starting libero for most teams not only in the NCVF Division III, but many other higher divisions in the nation,” said Schaefer. “He is an intense individual that led a freshmen heavy starting line-up at the national tournament that turned a lot of heads. He is another captain on our team that demonstrated what to do as a UW-Oshkosh student-athlete in matches, in practice and in the classroom.”
Skora, a 6-3 six rotation left side hitter immediately made an impact for the Titans this season. A WVC Division II First-Team All-Conference selection, he led the WVC Division II in both kills per set and service aces per set and had 60 kills (4.00 per set) at the national championships.
“The experience that Mike gained this year as the UW-Oshkosh III go-to-hitter will be invaluable for him in the future,” assessed Schaefer. “He has no fear as a player and has a heavy arm, solid block and very good ball control. He has a bright future in a Titans uniform and the award is a great way to start off his career.”
UW-Oshkosh now has 47 players that have combined to win 71 All-American awards, all but one coming since the 2003 season.
<< Back to 2016 News
|
|
|
|
News Archives
|
|
|
|
 |
|
