WASHINGTON - Georgetown junior catcher Nick Collins (Carthage, N.C./Union Pines) and senior left-handed pitcher Matt Hollenbeck (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) have both been named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. The preseason team was selected by a voted of the league's head coaches.
Collins started all 48 games for the Hoyas in 2014 with 25 starts coming behind the plate and 23 as the team's designated hitter. He led the Hoyas with a .351 batting average and a .418 on-base percentage. His 66 hits not only led Georgetown, but the entire BIG EAST through the end of the regular season. Collins ranked second on the Blue & Gray in RBI (38), runs scored (31), was tied for second in home runs (2) and finished third in doubles (8). His 23 multiple-hit games were the most on the team, and he finished the season having reached base safely in 18 consecutive games.
He played for the Chatham Anglers in the prestigious Cape Cod League over the summer, finishing with a .310 (27-for-87) batting average, good for third on the Anglers. He had a home run and a double to go along with three RBI. He was named a midseason all-star as a reserve catcher, coming into the game in the fifth inning and registering two at-bats.
Hollenbeck had a strong campaign for the Hoyas in 2014, both as a starter and out of the bullpen. The southpaw made 18 appearances on the mound, compiling a 5-2 record and a 3.18 ERA. He led the pitching staff in ERA, tied for the team lead in wins and finished second with 50 strikeouts. Hollenbeck finished the season strong in his last two starts, pitching seven innings and recording a career-high eight strikeouts in wins over Villanova and Butler.
Over the summer, Hollenbeck also played in the Cape Cod League, pitching for the Falmouth Commodores. He registered a 1-0 record with a 1.35 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 13.1 innings in nine regular-season appearances. In the postseason, he started in the deciding third game of the second round, giving up just two hits and two runs in four innings as Falmouth won to advance to the championship round.
In the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, Georgetown was voted to finish seventh with a total of 10 points. The Blue & Gray were picked right behind Butler and Villanova, which received 11 and 12 points, respectively. St. John's was selected to finish first with 32 points and three first-place votes.
The Hoyas open the 2015 season on the weekend of February 13-15 at the Wake Forest Invitational where they will play VCU, Bucknell and Delaware. The following weekend, February 20-22, GU will open its 23-game home schedule with a three-game series against Fairfield at Shirley Povich Field.