LEXINGTON, Kentucky (April 18, 2016) – Senior middle Cody Chidsey and junior outside Jack Fredricks of the Rutgers University-Newark men's volleyball team were named second-team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans, and senior setter Kevin McCandless earned honorable mention accolades, it was announced Monday.
 
The Scarlet Raider trio has played a major role in R-N's exceptional 24-3 season and the team's at-large berth to the 2016 NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship in Rochester, N.Y. Rutgers-Newark is making its second-straight appearance in the national tournament and will take on Stevens Institute of Technology in the NCAA Quarterfinals (Elite 8) on Friday at 3 p.m.
 
Chidsey receives his second second-team AVCA All-America honor in as many years, earning the prestigious award after a marvelous 2015 season as well.
 
A native of Bath, Pa., Chidsey currently sits fourth nationally in hitting percentage, converting at a .449 clip which was good for No. 1 in the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC). Chidsey was fourth on the Scarlet Raiders in kills (197) and kills per set (2.12) in an extremely balanced attack, also tallying 19 service aces and 33 digs. An all-conference performer, Chidsey has tallied 69 blocks (.74 per set) which is good for third on the squad, and he is a big reason the team sits third nationally in hitting percentage and 10th nationally in blocks per set.
 
Chidsey recorded double-digit kills in seven matches, hitting a remarkable .409 or better in each instance, racking up at least five kills and a hitting percentage of .350 or better in 17 matches this season.
 
In conference play, Chidsey played at a very-high level, hitting .447 in 12 matches, putting down 2.36 kills per set.
 
Fredricks had a career year in 2016, leading the Scarlet Raiders in kills with 257 and kills per set with 2.79. The third-year standout earned All-CVC honors, notching 119 total digs which was third on the team and 49 blocks.
 
The East Brunswick native eclipsed double-digit kills in 11 different matches, putting down seven or more in 21 outings. Fredricks was extremely efficient in his chances and will take a hitting percentage of .327 into the NCAA Tournament. That mark was good for 44th nationally and ninth in the conference, and his 2.72 kills per set currently sits 76th nationally and seventh in the CVC. Fredricks is in the top-100 in points per set, kills per set and hitting percentage.
 
Fredricks averaged 11.71 kills per match against DI and nationally-ranked opponents, securing 18 in a home victory over No. 13 New York University in the team's final home match.
 
McCandless was the engine behind an incredibly efficient Rutgers-Newark attack, setting the Raiders to a hitting percentage of .338 which is presently the third-highest mark in the nation and tops in the CVC. The veteran ranks sixth nationally in assists per set (10.54) heading into the NCAA Tournament and set three different teammates to top-10 ranks in the CVC in kills per set.
 
An all-around standout, McCandless dished out 980 assists, tallying 21 service aces and 41 kills as well. He hit .378 in limited chances, playing a major role on the defensive side of the net with 104 digs (1.12 per set) and 40 blocks.
 
McCandless eclipsed 30 assists in 22 matches this year, and could have seen even greater numbers had the Scarlet Raiders not won 74 of 95 sets played and not swept 15 matches.
 
"Cody, Jack and Kevin could not be more deserving of this honor," said Head Men's Volleyball Coach Pedro Trevino. "All three of these guys have worked incredibly hard to play at the level they have been playing at all year."
 
A total of 28 Division III student-athletes earned first- or second-team AVCA All-America honors, and five student-athletes earned honorable mention All-America nods.
 
"Any time you have players receive honors like these, it speaks volumes about the entire team," added Trevino. "Kevin, Jack and Cody would not have been recognized if we hadn't been so successful in terms of wins and losses, and if their teammates hadn't been so solid around them. It's been a great year so far, but I know our whole roster feels like there is still a lot of work to do."
 
Rutgers-Newark will battle defending NCAA National Champion Stevens Institute of Technology on Friday at 3 p.m. The Scarlet Raiders are seeded fourth in the tournament and ranked fifth in the AVCA national poll. Stevens is seeded fifth in the tournament and ranked fourth in the poll.
 
Scarlet Raider fans should check www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com each day leading up to the NCAA Tournament for previews, highlights, a running diary, a twitter takeover, photos, audio and more.