Last Updated: February 24, 2009
Carlo Edra, one of the finest defensive players in the history of the New Jersey City University men’s volleyball program, has worn nearly every hat possible with the Gothic Knights, and the former three-year starting libero now enters his second season as head coach at his alma mater in 2009. Edra became the ninth head coach in NJCU history on December 6, 2007, after serving one year as the program’s assistant coach.
In his first season as head coach of the Gothic Knights in 2008, NJCU went 14-17 overall and 4-5 in the difficult North East Collegiate Volleyball Association Metro Division, which featured conference champion Vassar College, along with nationally-ranked programs such as Stevens Institute of Technology, Ramapo College and SUNY New Paltz—with a starting lineup that included as many as five rookies on any given night.
Under his tutelage, three freshman—Justin Beaumont, Marley Pena-Guzman, and his younger brother Chris Edra, were all voted NECVA Metro Rookie of the Week during the season, while junior Kevin Rodgers, playing out of position at middle hitter to aid the team, earned First-Team All-Metro Division honors.
In 2007 when he served as NJCU’s assistant coach, the Knights finished 17-13, and reached the championship match of the ECAC Division III South Tournament as the third seed for the second consecutive year.
In a three-year career as NJCU’s starting libero from 2004-06, the Knights were a combined 55-41 (.573), winning 20 matches twice. After going 13-18 in 2004, the club won 22 matches his junior season in 2005, finishing 22-14 (.611), advancing to the ECAC Tournament for the first time. In 2006, NJCU went 20-9 (.690), qualified for the NECVA Tournament as the 10th seed, and reach the ECAC finals for the first time. NJCU was ranked as high as #14 in the nation during the season and won the 12th annual Gothic Knight Invitational.
In three seasons, Edra proved to be one of the finest defensive players in school history, graduating eighth in school history with 759 digs. A dependable player, he saw action in 95 of 96 matches and averaged 2.41 digs per game for his career. He totaled 138 assists, 50.5 points, 31 kills, 19 aces and one block in his career.
Edra finished his career ranking 11th in school history in games and matches played. Edra reached double figures in digs in 35 matches during his career. A 12-time member of the AVCA Division III 15-Dig Club, his career high was 20 digs, accomplished twice—March 28, 2004 at Yeshiva University and February 19, 2005 against Medgar Evers College.
When NJCU set an NCAA all-divisions, all-genders record for longest game with a 45-43 win over Philadelphia Biblical University on March 29, 2005, he posted 10 digs.
In 2004 he played in 100 games and 31 matches, defending 257 digs (2.57 per game) and ranked 41st in the NECVA conference. In 2005 in 123 games over 35 matches, he posted a career-high 290 digs (2.36 per set), 56 assists and 18 aces. As a senior in 2006 he played in all 29 matches and 92 games, with 212 digs (2.30) and 52 assists.
Edra is a 2007 graduate of NJCU with a bachelor's degree in Health Sciences specializing in Community Health. He transferred to NJCU from Middlesex County College where he attended from 2001-03.
Prior to coaching at NJCU, Edra was a volunteer boys and girls assistant coach at his alma mater, John P. Stevens High School, from 2002-04. Among the most notable players he coached at J.P Stevens was Praveen Pamidimukkala, who became an All-American at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a two-time NECVA New England Division Player of the Year and the 2007 NECVA Conference Player of the Year.
In the summers of 2002-04, Edra worked at the Middlesex County Volleyball Camp, run by Miguel Cabrita, head coach of New Jersey high school powerhouse, St. Joseph’s-Metuchen.
A 2001 graduate of J.P. Stevens High School in Edison, NJ, he was captain of the Hawks as a senior during the first season the sport was offered at his school, playing for Coach Patricia Savulich. JP Stevens reached the first round of the state tournament that year. Edra was part of a group of students that helped launch the program with a petition.
Edra comes from a volleyball-rich family. His father, Ceferino, was a former member of the National Volleyball Team in the Philippines while his mother, Annette, was the volleyball star in her high school.
Still active as a player, Edra continues to play beach volleyball on the Great American Volleyball Tour and in adult leagues in Central Jersey. He won the 2005 Atlantic City Open tournament while playing with his brother. The Edra brothers were the subject of a February 2008 feature article on NCAASports.com, entitled “Family Ties.”
Nicknamed C-Lo by his teammates, Carlo Angelo Edra was born October 24, 1983 in Quezon City, Philippines. When not coaching Edra enjoys playing poker, watching boxing and the New York Jets, and eating sushi.
