Princeton University Athletics
Volleyball's Marin Gjaja '91 Selected For EIVA Hall Of Fame Class of 2015
April 15, 2015 | Men's Volleyball
The first All-America player in the history of Princeton volleyball, Marin Gjaja '91 will be one of three 2015 inductees into the EIVA Hall of Fame next month.
Gjaja was a two-sport standout at Princeton; while excelling on the volleyball team under legendary head coach — and fellow EIVA Hall of Famer Glenn Nelson — Gjaja was also a tight end for the Princeton football team. Only two volleyball players have earned All-America honors since Gjaja, who graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and Operations Research.
"Marin was an amazing student athlete at Princeton playing both football and volleyball," current volleyball coach Sam Shweisky said. "After a stint with the USA Men's National team, Marin decided to pursue the next academic chapter in his life post Princeton and received a PHD in computational neuroscience. Currently Marin heads the Boston Consulting group in Chicago and is an amazing philanthropist, supporter, and proud alumnus for Princeton and Princeton Volleyball.
"Respected and revered by former teammates, competitors, and coaches across the league, Marin was in a league of his own," Shweisky said. "Marin is the quintessential representative of Education Through Athletics and we cannot be happier and more proud of his induction into the EIVA Hall of Fame."
While leading Princeton volleyball to a Top-20 ranking, he also helped the Princeton football team win the 1989 Ivy League title as a tight end.
"He was a terrific teammate," said Princeton head football coach Bob Surace, a member of the 1989 team. "He was a great guy, and he followed in the footsteps of 'Superman' (Dean Cain) as an all-league caliber football and volleyball player. He had an unbealievable body for the position, and he could catch anything."
"Legendary Princeton volleyball coach Glenn Nelson has often been quoted as saying that Gjaja was the best player he ever coached during his 30 year tenure," Shweisky added. "From one legend to another, more accurate praise has never been given."
Gjaja will be inducted into the Hall of Fame May 1st at Penn State during the EIVA championship match.