Men's Volleyball Announces Class of 2020

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata men's volleyball team welcomes a freshmen class of seven to the 2016-17 season. Joining the Eagles next season are Sean Cavanagh (Cranberry Twp., Pa. / Seneca Valley), Joe Fick (Venetia, Pa. / Peters Township) , David Hibner (Burke, Va. / Lake Braddock Secondary) , Frank Perehinec (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area) , Morgan Pierce (Carpinteria, Calif. / Cate School), Matt Schaeffer (Mount Wolf, Pa. / Northeastern) and Michael Young (Westlake Village, Calif. / Westlake Village). 

Cavanagh is a 6'3'' outside hitter/libero from Cranberry Township. The three-time varsity letter-winner was selected to the First Team All-Section and First Team All-WPIAL in 2016. He received Most Valuable Player honors his senior season with the Seneca Valley Raiders. 

"Sean is a very good ball control player that plays the game smart," head coach Pat Shawaryn said. "We look for him to be a solid passing outside but he could also see time at libero."

Cavanagh played under former Juniata men's volleyball player Dan Follett at Seneca Valley. Shawaryn is confident that this will help Cavanagh adjust to the program and allow him to excel quickly. 

Also joining the Eagles from the WPIAL is 6'3''outside hitter Joe Fick from Peters Township. 

Fick, a multi-sport athlete, totaled five varsity letters as an Indian. He earned three as an outside hitter on the boy's volleyball team and two as a guard on the basketball team.  In volleyball, he was named varsity team captain his junior and senior seasons. Fick was selected to the WPIAL All-Section Team his sophomore, junior and senior seasons and named to the Second Team All-WPIAL in 2016. 

Shawaryn is excited to see Fick grow and develop his skills as an Eagle. 

"Joe jumps and does a lot of things very well," Shawaryn said. "He will need to work on his ball control, but once he gets a better touch, he will excel. Joe is a very gifted athlete that will be fun to watch grow." 

David Hibner comes to Juniata as a tri-athlete out of Lake Braddock Secondary in Burke, Va. Hibner played four years as an outside hitter on the boy's volleyball team, three as a defensive end/tight end in football and two as a center/forward on the basketball team. 

"David is an extremely athletic individual," Shawaryn said. "He played multiple sports in high school, which made it difficult to see which sport he would go with in college because he was talented in each." 

Hibner's natural athletic ability makes him a versatile asset for Juniata. While he played as an outside hitter in high school, Shawaryn sees him getting time in the middle or as an opposite. 

"David's athletic ability, strength, speed and size made him a recruit that we really wanted to bring in," Shawaryn said. "With his ability to play in multiple positions, it's hard to say where he will be used this upcoming season. He will challenge to play in the middle and at opposite, but he could also see time at the outside." 

From Altoona, Pa., Juniata welcomes Frank Perehenic to the roster. Perehenic is a 6'6'' outside hitter/opposite from Altoona Area High School. He earned three varsity letters during his high school career, is a two-time PIAA First Team AAA District 6 selection and a two-time Mid-State Boy's Volleyball League All-Star. During his senior year, Altoona High School was crowned PIAA District 6 Champions and Perehenic was voted the team's MVP. 

"Frank is a very tall and talented individual," Shawaryn said. "With his size he will certainly make a difference in the gym and will look to make an impact on the court right away. He is a plays with no fear and is okay with making an aggressive error from time to time, which is what we, as a staff, want to see." 

Morgan Pierce is a four-year varsity letter-winner from Cate School from Carpinteria, Calif. The 6'6'' outside hitter/opposite is a two-time Tri Valley League Conference Player of the Year and four time MVP.

A natural leader on the court, Pierce was co-captain his freshman and sophomore years and captain his junior and senior seasons. 

"Morgan is a southern California volleyball player that comes from a solid program," Shawaryn said. "He has great size and, like most of the other players we have coming in, can play in multiple positions. Morgan has great size and if he can continue to grow with his ball control and savvy play, will look to challenge to play." 

5'11'' setter Matt Schaeffer joins the Eagles from Mount Wolf, Pa. Schaeffer is a four-year varsity letter-winner from Northeastern High School. He was named to the PIAA District 3 AA First Team and PIAA All-State First Team honors in 2015 and 2016. Northeastern was crowned York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association regular season and county tournament champions in 2013, 2015 and 2016. 

"Matt comes from one of the best high school programs in the state of Pennsylvania," Shawaryn said. "He's a precise setter that runs his offense with a great tempo. Matt's high IQ for volleyball is something that he takes advantage of when he plays. He will challenge for the starting position." 

Also making his case for the starting setting position will be Michael Young, a 6-2 setter from Westlake Village, Calif.  Young comes from a very competitive club in southern California and works hard to bring out the best from his teammates. In 2016, he was named to the Best of the West All-Tournament Team. 

"One thing that we really liked about Michael was his commitment to demand the best from his teammates in a game," Shawaryn said. "He is a consistent setter that runs a fast-paced offense. Michael is a very gifted volleyball player that is well-rounded in every aspect of the game."