Santos Named Off the Block Independent Teams Player of the Year, Porras Earns All-Independent Team Honors
Coker men’s volleyball Joao Victor Santos and Stephen Porras were given spots in the 2018 Off the Block All-Independent Team for their performances on the season, as announced on Wednesday, April, 11.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Coker men's volleyball members Joao Victor Santos and Stephen Porras were given spots in the 2018 Off the Block All-Independent Team for their performances on the season, as announced on Wednesday, April, 11.
Santos was named as one of the two opposites on the squad. Santos also earned Independent Teams Player of the Year honors, earning 10 of 18 points awarded. A nationwide voting committee of college coaches selected Santos as the best player among independent teams.
The Brasilia, Brazil native ended the regular season 12th in the nation with a 3.72 kills per game average and had at least 20 kills in four matches, including a season-high 26 kills in a near upset against Limestone in February. The opposite also is fifth in the nation with a 0.56 aces per game average and had a season-high five aces in matches against Lincoln Memorial, Belmont Abbey, and Queens during the regular season. His season match-highs include 26 kills, three assists, five service aces (three times), 16 digs (a career-high), and seven total blocks (a career-high).
Despite Coker playing the majority of the season with a six-player roster, Santos helped the Cobras earn the No. 2 seed for the upcoming IVA Tournament. In addition, this season the opposite was a two-time recipient of the Off the Block Independent Teams Player of the Week.
Porras was honored as an outside attacker on the team and came in fourth in the Player of the Year voting as well.
The Chesterfield, Va. native was in the nation's top 50 averaging 2.94 kills per game and had at least 15 kills in four of Coker's six final regular season matches. He also was in the nation's top-20 with a 0.43 aces per game average, including having three aces in a five-game victory against Alderson Broaddus in March. His season match-highs include 20 kills, two assists (six times), eight service aces (tying a Coker match record), 11 digs (tying career-high), and five total blocks (a career-high).