Brooklyn, NY --- The Brooklyn College Men's Volleyball team will have a new leader in 2012, as Michael Salak takes over the reigns as head coach. The Bulldogs will look to improve upon their 2011 season, which saw BC go 8-14 overall and 5-9 in the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC). Brooklyn would clinch the sixth seed in the 2011 CUNYAC Tournament, where it fell to the third seeded Lehman College Lightning in the quarterfinals.

Coach Salak will rely on a pair of All-CUNYAC standouts in his rookie season at the helm of the BC Men's Volleyball program, with the return of sophomores Timothy Hui (2011 CUNYAC Libero of the Year) and Alexander Shlivko (2011 CUNYAC All-Star Second Team).

Hui racked up a CUNYAC-best 238 digs while playing in all 72 sets a season ago, to average 3.31 digs-per-set. Shlivko ranked fourth in the conference in kills, tallying a team-leading 222 kills in 69 sets played, to average 3.22 kills-per-set. Shlivko also ranked 11th in the league in service aces with 19 (0.28 SA/set).

“Hui has been practicing well,” said coach Salak. “We will push him to be the CUNYAC Libero of the Year for the second year in a row.” “Shlivko is a real go to guy for us,” stated Salak. “We need his presence to be felt in all phases of the game.”

Other key returners include seniors Gene Tom and Duong Thai. “Tom and Thai represent the real nucleus of the team,” continued Salak. “They are the most experienced players we have, with both being seniors. We will be relying on them for their consistency all season long.”

Tom recorded a team-leading 239 assists last season in 65 sets played, averaging 3.68 assists-per-game. His 17 (0.26 SA/set) service aces ranked him 15th in the CUNYAC. Thai appeared in 67 sets a year ago, totaling 97 kills, 122 assists, 14 service aces, 50 digs and 18 total blocks.

Another notable returner for the Bulldogs will be junior David Rafailov, who Salak will look towards to be a key part of the offense. Rafailov appeared in 48 sets a season ago, totaling 28 kills, 11 service aces, 14 digs and nine totals blocks. He will look to be a bigger contributor this season with a year under his belt.

BC will kick-off the 2012 season on Tuesday, January 31st, as the Bulldogs will travel to Purchase, NY to take on the Panthers of SUNY Purchase. Brooklyn's 2012 home opener is scheduled for Thursday, February 9th against CUNYAC rival York College. The first 200 fans will receive a free t-shirt a part of “White Out Night.”