Waisler named 2025 NEVC Rookie of the Year, Stein chosen as All-NEVC, Esposito named to Sportsmanship Team

4/8/2025 9:57:00 AM | By: Bard Sports Information

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The Bard College men's volleyball team picked up three awards for the first time since leaving the Skyline Conference on Tuesday as the league office announced the 2024-25 All-NEVC teams.

Ansel Waisler was chosen as the 2025 Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-NEVC First Team, Sidney Stein was named to the All-NEVC Second Team, and Pearse Esposito was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team. It's the first time in program history that the Raptors have combined a Rookie of the Year award with two all-conference selections.

Waisler led the conference in kills per set and total kills. He averaged 3.90 kills per set, including double-digit kills in 21 of 26 matches this season, and ranked 23rd nationally. Five of the double-digit kills were against conference opponents. He ranked 4th among all first-years in Division III. His career-high 27 kills against Lehman was the 16th highest output this season in a five-set match nationally, placing him second among all first-years in the country. In the four-setter against Mount Aloysius, he ripped 26 kills, the ninth most in a four-set match and the most for a first year in a four-setter this season.

He ranks second in the NEVC in aces per set, with 0.45. He had a career-high six aces against John Jay, which placed him 11th in the country for the number of aces in a four-set match. In addition, he ranked fourth in the conference in digs per set, at 2.08, leading to seven double-doubles. Waisler was named the NEVC Rookie of the Week three times and was combined as Athlete and Rookie of the Week for the first time in Bard's program. He sits second in digs with 195.

Stein had a stellar rookie season, playing in 26 matches. He ranked third in the conference in kills per set, with 3.29, recording 322 total kills. After recording just one match with double-digit kills in his first six matches, Stein went on a five-match streak with 10+ kills, recording double-digit kills in 17 of the final 20 matches that he played in the year. Stein was named the Athlete and Rookie of the Week on March 10th, averaging 3.58 kills per set.

He also ranked 11th in the NEVC in digs per set, at 1.73. Stein had three double-doubles and had four more near double-doubles, where he reached double-digits in one category and had nine in another. Stein recorded a career-high 16 digs against Wilkes, the second-most by a Raptor this season. He was a threat from the service line as well, recording a career-high six aces against Fisher.

Esposito was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team and was one of two first-years recognized this season. He became the main setter for Bard this season, and stepped up in conference play. Overall, he averaged 5.16 assists per set, but against NEVC opponents, that increased to 6.39 assists per set, which is 6th in the conference. Esposito also swatted 155 kills on the season, or 1.5 per set. His timing on blocks was impressive, leading to 56 total blocks to lead the Raptors. He played all the Raptors' matches and was in all but two sets, leading Bard with 103 sets played.

He aced opponents 31 times this season, third most on the team. Additionally, Esposito was among the leaders on the team in digs, with 145 total (1.41 per set). To cap it off, his triple-double against Emerson of 31 assists, 13 digs, and 10 kills was the first one recorded in Division III by a first year since 2023.

The last time the Raptors had multiple All-Conference was back in the 2011 season with Nick Chan repeating as Player of the Year and All-Skyline First Team, Elijah Strauss named All-Skyline First Team, and Maxwell Howard was named All-Skyline Second Team.

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