Saint Francis Men’s Volleyball Secures NEC Honors with Three All-Conference Selections

Saint Francis University’s men’s volleyball program earned significant recognition from the Northeast Conference (NEC) this season, securing one major postseason award and placing three players on the All-NEC First Team, the conference announced Wednesday.

The Red Flash celebrated a standout campaign highlighted by individual excellence, with multiple student-athletes receiving conference-wide honors for their performance throughout the 2025 season.

NEC Player of the Year Headlines Saint Francis Awards

Leading the accolades for Saint Francis U was junior opposite hitter Nathan Zini, who was named NEC Player of the Year. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Seton-La Salle Catholic High School, Zini’s outstanding play at the net was instrumental to the team’s success. His selection marks a significant achievement, underscoring his impact as one of the conference’s top performers.

Zini’s honor was part of a broader recognition for the Red Flash, who collected three of the NEC’s four major individual awards for the season, reflecting the program’s strength and depth.

Three Red Flash Earn All-NEC First Team Honors

Complementing Zini’s Player of the Year award, two additional Saint Francis players joined him on the All-NEC First Team:

• Ondrej Arabasz – Daemen (listed as playing for Saint Francis U in current rosters), Middle Blocker, Sophomore, from Jicin, Czech Republic
• Chase Celichowski – LIU (listed as playing for Saint Francis U in current rosters), Outside Hitter, Junior, from Germantown, Wisconsin/Germantown High School

The trio’s selection to the prestigious All-NEC First Team highlights their consistent, high-level contributions throughout the conference schedule. Their combined efforts were pivotal in Saint Francis’ competitive showing within the NEC men’s volleyball landscape.

Program Recognition Reflects Season Success

The conference awards and All-NEC selections come on the heels of a successful season for the Saint Francis men’s volleyball team. Earlier in the year, the Red Flash achieved an undefeated regular season record in NEC play, setting the stage for their postseason accolades.

Having four total players earn All-NEC recognition (including the three First Team selections) further demonstrates the breadth of talent within the Saint Francis roster and the effectiveness of the coaching staff led by Mike Rumbaugh, now in his 27th season with the program.

Looking Ahead

With core contributors returning and a proven winning culture established, the Saint Francis men’s volleyball program enters the offseason with momentum. The NEC honors serve not only as recognition of past achievement but also as a foundation for building toward future conference contention and continued excellence in Division I men’s volleyball.

For the latest updates on Saint Francis athletics and men’s volleyball news, visit the official Saint Francis University athletics website.