NJIT's Alvaro Gimeno to Represent Spanish National Volleyball Team

NJIT men's volleyball rising senior Alvaro Gimeno will represent the Spanish National Team for the third straight summer.

The national team will compete from August 30 to September 6 in Cyprus. The qualifier games will consist of three days of games, two days of rest and three more games against Cyprus, Moldavia, Latvia and Spain. The champion qualifies for 2021 EuroVolley.

Gimeno, which is one of the youngest players on the 22-person Spanish roster, competed with the U20 Spain National Team at the 2019 CEV European Golden League and 2018 CEV U20 Volleyball European Championships.

"We have been training for three weeks right now, and it's very nice to feel the game again and be back on the court," Gimeno commented. "The three months of lockdown here in Spain were rough even though I didn't stop getting my body ready if there was a chance of being back with the national team." 

The 6-foot-9 outside hitter was selected to the 2020 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) men's Division I-II All-America second-team and Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Co-Player of the Year, led the Highlanders in three categories -- kills (174; 3.62kps; 20th in the nation), service aces (25; 0.52aps; 9th in nation) and digs (74; 1.54dps). 

"We are incredibly proud of the work Alvaro puts into improving himself as a player, teammate and we are excited to watch his continued success with the Spanish National team," said head coach Danny Goncalves.

An EIVA first-team honoree, Gimeno's .353 hitting percentage ranked 23rd in the nation.

He reached double-digit kills in 12 out of 14 matches this season, including a career-best 26 kills at Geoge Mason (2.21).  The 26 kills ranks tied for second in the nation in a four-set match. 

Gimeno posted four service aces in a pair of matches (at Lindenwood (1.18); at George Mason (2.21), season-best eight digs in three matches and six total blocks (all assists) at McKendree (1.17).