MIAMI SHORES, Fla. — Ahead of the Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Championship Tournament, the Catawba College men's volleyball team earned four all-league honors as Justin Arrowood was named the IVA Freshman of the Year and Raheem Thomas was crowned the Assistant Coach of the Year. Arrowood, Max Adkisson and Kristian Smith were tabbed to the All-IVA First Team, while Wyatt Eastin found a spot on the Second Team.
Redshirting during the program's inaugural season, Arrowood watched as collegiate veterans Trevor Phillips and Eli Zdonek captained the offense. This season, it was the Arlington Heights, Ill., native's time to shine as he ripped 351 kills with 152 digs, 50 blocks and 23 service aces in the regular season. He holds the program record for swings in a season with 840 while trailing Phillips' kills mark by six heading into the IVA Tournament.
Adkisson, starting at libero in 48 of the program's 49 matches, broke his own single-season digs record this season with 204 digs for a 2.32 per-set average. The sophomore was a defensive weapon early and often, shattering the digs in a match record with 21 at Belmont Abbey on Jan. 15. Heading into the postseason, Adkisson ranks 14th nationally in digs per stanza while slotting 47th among active careers with 387 stops.
In his second season as the Catawba Indians' primary setter, Smith averaged 9.52 assists per set in the regular season for a total count of 590. Despite missing one-third of the season due to injury, the Zebulon, N.C., product is second on the squad with 20 service aces and fourth with exactly 100 digs. Smith slots 26th among active Division I players with 1,498 career helpers.
Eastin has made a considerable leap in his sophomore campaign in the middle, nearly doubling his offensive output with 130 kills while upping the ante defensively with a team-high 78 total blocks. The Simpsonville, S.C., native's crisp .360 hitting percentage is the best on the team as he's also chipped in 12 service aces and 37 digs.
Since joining the coaching staff last summer, Thomas has been an invaluable addition to the program in all facets from recruiting to tactical strategy. Thomas brings five years of college volleyball to the sideline, highlighted by trips to the NCAA Tournament with back-to-back SIAC champion Fort Valley State in 2024 and 2025.
