SALISBURY, N.C. – The Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (IVA) announced Eli Zdonek of the Catawba College men's volleyball team as the league's Newcomer of the Year on Thursday.

Zdonek brought plenty of fireworks to the Catawba offense in its inaugural season, totaling 306 kills on a .266 hitting percentage with 20 service aces and 11 assists. The Greenville, S.C. native was just as potent on the defensive end as he registered 142 digs and 50 blocks.

His prowess in a two-sweep week warranted IVA Defensive of the Week honors on Mar. 11, helping the Catawba Indians begin an undefeated trek through the month of March. Zdonek ripped double-digit kills in 10 of his last 11 matches featuring a double-double in the five-set thriller at Tusculum.

In the season finale at the IVA Championships, Zdonek racked up 22 darts to eclipse the 1,000-kill mark in his career, reaching 1,009 between his three seasons at Emmanuel and one at Catawba.