LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East Conference released its 2026 Men's Volleyball All-Conference teams and major awards. Gallaudet University brought home four all-conference honors with two repeat recipients.
Sophomore outside hitter
Zachary Bippus (Fishers, Ind.) moved up to the first team after being on the second team in 2025. Sophomore libero
Elian Zfati (Brooklyn, N.Y.) landed on the second team after being on the first team last season. Zfati is joined on the second team by sophomore setter
Troy Holcomb (Fremont, Calif.). Sophomore middle hitter
Tyler Wascher (Noblesville, Ind.) was picked to the third team. GU doubled its win total from a year ago to finish 10-17 and 5-3 in conference play as the Bison earned the fifth seed in the United East tournament and advanced to the semifinals after a quarterfinal road victory.
Bippus was ranked seventh in NCAA Division III for attacks per set (9.93), 18th in points per set (4.31) and 22nd in kills per set (3.68). He finished the year ranked first in the conference for points per set, attack attempts (904), second in kills (335), second in kills per set, points (392.5), fourth in digs (203), sixth in digs per set (2.23) and tied for sixth in service aces (34), 10th in service aces per set (0.37), tied for 11th in blocks (33), block assists (19) and 17th in hitting percentage (.184).
Zfati ranked 10th in NCAA Division III for digs per set (3.08) as GU as a team ranks 11th in that same category with an 11.56 average. The starting Bison libero was ranked first in the United East for digs per set and second for total digs (243).
Holcomb makes his first appearance on the all-conference team as he finished the season ranked third in the United East for assists (738), fourth in assists per set (7.61), fifth in digs (193) and 13th in digs per set (1.99).
Wascher earns his first all-conference honor after being a huge force at the net for the Bison as he finished third in the conference for blocks (60), fourth in block assists (45), sixth in hitting percentage (.278), block solos (15), eighth in blocks per set (0.62), 11th in points (225.5), 14th in attack attempts (378) and 19th in points per set (2.36).
Cairn University's Sam Poirier was named Offensive Player of the Year for a second straight year while Wilson College's Camden Sterner took home Defensive Player of the Year accolades. Lancaster Bible College's Braden Escover garnered Rookie of the Year honors while his coach Jade Brubaker was selected by his peers as the Coach of the Year.
GU HONORS
The Bison have six all-conference honors (2 first team, 3 second team, 1 third team) since joining the conference in 2010-11. The 2026 season was GU's second as a varsity program since 2013.
2026: Zachary Bippus (First Team)
2026: Troy Holcomb (Second Team)
2026: Elian Zfati (Second Team)
2026: Tyler Wascher (Third Team)
2025: Elian Zfati (First Team)
2025: Zachary Bippus (Second Team)
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