NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University's Shaun Kampshoff and Jake Whyte became just the second and third Pioneers in program history to be named to the Off the Block All-Independent Team, the website announced late last week. Both Kampshoff and Whyte were listed among the second team honorees.
The duo were amongst 17 student-athletes selected by the programs' head coaches. The All-Independent Team recognizes the best players during the regular season from NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball teams that are competing without a conference affiliation. The 11 independent teams this season were American International, Alderson Broaddus, Daemen, D'Youville, Fairleigh Dickinson, Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, Long Island, Maryville, Queens, and Tusculum.
The 16 players who received the most votes, regardless of their position, were placed on the All-Independent Team. The top eight vote-getters were named First Team All-Independent Team, while the next top eight vote-getters made the Second Team. A tie in the voting resulted in an additional first team selection.
Kampshoff, the Las Vegas, Nevada senior, stepped into the starting setter role for his final go-round. He was one of three Pioneers to appear in every set this season. Kampshoff excelled in every category, racking up 44 kills, 783 assists, 55 service aces, 118 digs, and 42 total blocks (nine solo, 33 assists). He finished with highs of five kills, 49 assists (twice), nine aces, nine digs, and six block assists. Kampshoff nearly recorded the program's first triple-double with his Senior Night performance of 46 assists, nine aces, and nine digs. He graduates as TU career leader in matches played (61), kills (309), digs (248), and aces (88). In the final NCAA statistical update for the season, Kampshoff finished third nationally in aces per set (0.577).
Whyte, a junior transfer hailing from Greenbrier, Tennessee, was the starting right side hitter in his first season at Tusculum. He was a part of the trio that saw action in every frame. Whyte totaled a team-best 270 kills, adding three assists, 17 aces, 92 digs, and 34 total blocks (five solo, 29 assists). He tallied 16 double-digit kill outings over the course of the regular season, highlighted by a season-best 20 at Queens. Whyte also contributed at least one block in 16 matches, including a high of six block assists at Emmanuel. He made his mark in the Pioneer record book with new single-season marks of 308 kills and 831 attempts.
The Pioneers finished fifth at last month's IVA Tournament, defeating both D'Youville and Fairleigh Dickinson at the event. Whyte was named to the All-Tournament Team. TU also ended the 2022 campaign with a program-record eight wins in head coach Bryan Buckius' first season.
This is the fifth season that Off the Block has presented the All-Independent Team for NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball. Off the Block is a website that launched in 2011 and is the nation's leader in college men's volleyball coverage.
Along with presenting the All-Independent Team, Off the Block presents the Independent Teams Player of the Year and the Independent Teams Freshman of the Year. The college men's volleyball website also presented the Independent Teams Player of the Week throughout the regular season.
2022 Off the Block All-Independent Team
First Team All-Independent Team
Setter: Kohl Kutsch, Lincoln Memorial
Setter: Paul Stommel, Limestone
Outside attacker: Jack Brinkman, Queens
Outside attacker: Cole Campisano, Lincoln Memorial
Outside attacker: Jack Lydon, Fairleigh Dickinson
Outside attacker: Johansen Negron, Lincoln Memorial
Outside attacker: Zach Schneider, Daemen
Outside attacker: Geraldo Rivera, Limestone
Middle attacker: Veit Bils, Limestone
Second Team All-Independent Team
Setter: Shaun Kampshoff, Tusculum
Setter: Daniel Leitao, Queens
Opposite: Jake Whyte, Tusculum
Middle attacker: Jake Couzens, Daemen
Middle attacker: Matthew Gentry, Lincoln Memorial
Middle attacker: JP Payne, Queens
Middle attacker: Dawson Walker, Lincoln Memorial
Libero: Grady Hoffman, Fairleigh Dickinson
Freshman of the Year
Veit Bils, Limestone
Player of the Year
Kohl Kutsch, Lincoln Memorial
Coach of the Year
John Cash, Lincoln Memorial
