Three GNAC Student-Athletes Named to AVCA All-America Teams
Lexington, Ky. - Three Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) student-athletes were named to the 2025 Division III American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Men's Volleyball All-American Teams. Nicolai Bell of Wentworth, Michael Shelley of Emmanuel, and Theo Zaharewicz of Lasell earned the national honors as announced by AVCA last week on Monday (April 21). Bell and Shelley earned honorable mention honors while Zaharewicz was honored with First Team honors.
Release Courtesy of Wentworth Athletic Communications
Bell was a standout in the middle this season, hitting .372 and averaging 1.79 kills per set in 66 total sets played. The junior also averaged .80 blocks per set (53 total blocks ranks second on the Leopards), a mark that is among the top-five in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. Last Monday, Bell was named to the All-GNAC First Team before being tabbed an All-Region honoree by the AVCA.
For his career, Bell has accounted for 352 kills at a .426 clip. The Moraga, Calif. native also has 197 career blocks to his name. Bell has been honored by the GNAC in each of his three seasons as a Leopards, being named to the All-GNAC Third Team last season and earning a spot on the All-GNAC Rookie Team as a freshman.
Release Courtesy of Emmanuel Athletic Communications
The Saints outside hitter was once again one of the best in the nation in 2025, averaging 3.95 kills per set, good for 21st in NCAA Division III. Within the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), Shelley's kills per set led the league while his 324 kills were the third-most in the GNAC.
With his additional skills in serving and blocking, the San Francisco native averaged 4.76 points responsible for per set, good for the top spot in the GNAC and 11th in all of NCAA Division III.
Shelley is one of the GNAC players to earn a spot on the AVCA All-American Squad. Lasell's Theo Zaharewicz earned a spot on the First Team, while Wentworth's Nicolai Bell joins Shelley on the AVCA Honorable Mention list.
Class of 2011 graduate Curtis Abram is the only other Saints men's volleyball player in team history to be recognized as an All-American by the AVCA. Abram was named to the All-American Second Team in his senior season.
Through three seasons with Emmanuel, Shelley has 773 career kills while hitting .296 from the floor. He adds 100 career aces and 110 total blocks, amounting to 938.5 points responsible for in his career.
Release Courtesy of Lasell Athletic Communications
Zaharewicz, a four-year force for Lasell, closes out his collegiate career as one of the most decorated players in program history. His senior campaign was nothing short of dominant.
Across 30 matches and 102 sets, Zaharewicz tallied 388 kills (3.80 kills/set) on .343 hitting, leading the team offensively while remaining a cornerstone in serve receive and defense. He added 46 service aces, 130 digs (1.27 digs/set), 32 blocks, and a staggering 453.5 total points, averaging 4.4 points per set.
Known for his consistency, leadership, and clutch performances, Zaharewicz has been the heart of the team—and his First Team All-American selection cements his legacy on the national stage.
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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