SMCC Men's Volleyball Wraps Up Historic 2023 Campaign

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's volleyball team concluded its 2023 season with a 3-1 loss to the GCU Club Team on Apr. 7. Sophomore John Engelbert led SMCC with 11 kills and 12 digs, and freshmen Connor McCann and Michael Howell added 10 kills as the Cougars finished their second year of competition with a 2-9 record. 

SMCC totaled 44 kills on 127 swings for a .157 hitting percentage. The Cougars added 43 assists, five service aces, 49 digs, four solo blocks and six block assists over the four sets. 

Engelbert hit .250 on 24 swings and added two digs and two block assists. McCann hit .294 on 24 swings with two solo blocks and two block assists, and Howell hit .227 on 22 swings with five digs, one solo block and one block assist. 

Freshman Brandon Pauole led SMCC with 32 assists and three service aces, adding nine digs and two kills. Sophomore Andy Sanchez posted 10 digs and three assists, and freshman Victor Frejo posted three kills and a dig. 

Sophomore Mario Abril posted two kills, and freshman Karson Bingham added seven digs and a service ace. Freshman Zach Brown posted five kills, and freshman Patrick Mayer had a kill, a solo block and a block assist. 

SMCC finished the year 2-9 and posted their first two wins in program history: a 3-2 victory over Park-Gilbert on Feb. 22 and a 3-1 win at Park-Gilbert on Mar. 6.

McCann led SMCC with 122 kills in the 11 matches, hitting .343 in 268 attacks. He also led the Cougars with 55 total blocks courtesy of 12 solo stuffs and 43 block assists. 

Howell was second on the squad with 89 kills in 11 matches, posting a .294 hitting percentage in 211 swings. He was second on the team with 77 digs and added 16 total blocks. 

Brown was third on the team with 82 kills in nine matches. He hit .176 in 262 attacks and added 42 digs and 16 total blocks. 

Engleblert finished with 54 kills, 12 service aces, 38 digs and 22 total blocks, while Pauole led SMCC with 302 assists and 21 assists and added 29 kills, 50 kills and 23 total blocks. 

Sanchez led SMCC with 80 digs and added 16 assists and seven service aces.