EMU Senior Frankie Coto
EMU senior Frankie Coto

Men’s Volleyball: Coto Leads The Way On Senior Day

When Frankie Coto (Miami, Fl./Southwest Miami) graduates from Eastern Mennonite later this spring, he will leave with his name peppered throughout the men’s volleyball record books.

On his final regular season match Saturday in Harrisonburg, Coto was content to slam 14 kills without an error and lead his Royals to a 3-0 win over New Jersey City.

EMU closes the regular season with a record of 11-17 overall and 7-5 in NECVA play. The men now await word on an at-large berth to the NECVA Tournament, which is next weekend in Hoboken, NJ.

Frankie Coto had 14 kills on just 19 attempts in his final match on the EMU floor.
Frankie Coto had 14 kills on just 19 attempts in his final match on the EMU floor.

The Royals were in control much of the match against New Jersey City and used short runs to seal the wins in each game. A 5-0 run followed by a 4-0 run landed the knockout punch in game one, a 25-17 decision.

Trailing by one late in game two, EMU scored four straight to go ahead 22-19 en route to a 25-22 win.

The men then closed the match on a 9-1 run, with Coto fittingly landing the final kill of a 25-18 victory.

Coto led all players with his 14 kills and had a .737 attack percentage with no errors on 19 attempts. He holds EMU record for career blocks, single season total blocks, single season block assists and matches played. The middle blocker is also sixth on the school’s career kills list with 814.

Greg Knight (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) added 10 kills and a match high four service aces.

Kendall Garber (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) added seven kills as the Royals hit .356 as a team. Setter John Barry (Aaron Bridge, Oh./Worthington Kilbourne) had 33 assists.

Libero Nolan Prock (Virginia Beach, Va./Frank W. Cox) led all players with 12 digs.