Bhatti Crowned First SJC NCAA Statistical Champion

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – There were 175,710 student-athletes in Division III last season. Only a select few of that number can call themselves NCAA statistical champions, but Muhammad Ali Bhatti (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) of the St. Joseph's College men's volleyball team can be proud to be part of that elite list.

Bhatti averaged 0.71 aces per set ranking first in Division III men's volleyball in 2012.  The outside hitter from the Class of 2012 served up a career best 39 aces in 17 matches played for the Bears who finished with a 6-13 record, the most wins in their short four-year history. Bhatti tallied a career-high nine aces in the Bears' season-opening victory over Medgar Evers College.

Miguel Gallardo of Lehman College finished in second, averaging .59 aces per set. While the men's volleyball season ended last April, the NCAA statistics staff takes several months to verify the statistics and crown their champions.  The NCAA has presented a commemorative plaque recognizing the accomplishment to Bhatti and another will also be displayed in the athletic department trophy case.

St. Joseph's attained full NCAA Division III membership last year making all its student-athletes eligible for the statistical recognition.  While several Bears and Lady Bears had their names sprinkled among the leaders in their respective sports, Bhatti is the first champion. Bhatti's accomplishment also adds to another list of NCAA firsts for St. Joseph's, with the women's basketball team qualifying for the department's first NCAA Tournament this past March.