1/29/25
A few new articles published today with insights on conference alignments, D3 roster make-ups, and an inspiring story about the new program at Gallaudet. Here are links to the articles…
Let’s take a look at some of the action so far this week in match play…
The NYU men’s volleyball team (7-0) maintained their perfect season with a commanding straight-set victory over Baruch College (0-5) on Wednesday, January 29. The match showcased NYU’s depth, with freshman Bennet Tchaikovsky making an impressive debut at libero, contributing key defensive plays that helped secure a decisive 25-15 first-set victory. Devyn Nguyen orchestrated the offense masterfully with 32 assists, keeping Baruch’s defense off-balance throughout the match, particularly in the second set which NYU won 25-22 despite increased resistance from the Bearcats. The third set provided some drama as Baruch gained momentum, forcing Coach Piña to call a strategic timeout that helped the Violets refocus and close out the match 25-20. Individual performances highlighted NYU’s balanced attack, with Emerson Evans leading all players with 11 kills, while Lucas Osiecki added eight kills and a match-high five service aces. The Violets‘ defensive effort was equally impressive, with Nguyen contributing nine digs alongside Tchaikovsky’s seven, while Evans and Ry Kagan each recorded three aces to bolster the serving performance.
The SUNY New Paltz men’s volleyball team won its home opener against Kean, sweeping the Cougars in three sets with scores of 25-20, 29-27, and 25-17 to improve their record to 3-5. The Hawks battled back from early deficits, with standout performances from Matt Teplansky and Nikko Tenedorio, who both recorded 10 kills during the match. Key moments included Luke Hofer’s defensive play, Daniel Shanley’s playmaking, and freshman Tristan Rezza’s crucial kills that helped secure the victory. Teplansky was particularly impressive, hitting .526 on 19 attempts, while freshman Tenedorio contributed 11.5 total points with kills, an ace, and nine digs. The team will next travel to Rutgers-Newark on January 31st, beginning a five-game road trip before returning home for their UVC opener against Hobart College on February 28th.
In action Tuesday night, Mount Union’s men’s volleyball team defeated Thiel College in an intense five-set match (24-26, 25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 15-11), improving their record to 6-4. Jack McClure led the Purple Raiders with a game-high 23 kills, while Will Heeney contributed 53 assists and Peyton Koszelak recorded 22 digs. The match was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading set wins and momentum throughout the game, featuring standout performances from Thiel‘s Will Zimmerman and freshman Ezra Oesterling. After a nail-biting fourth set that went to Thiel, Mount Union rallied in the final set, with crucial plays from McClure, Heeney, and Justin Dickson securing their victory. The Purple Raiders will next face Buffalo State at 7 pm in Alliance, Ohio.
The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s volleyball team staged an impressive comeback, defeating Marian University in a thrilling five-set match and improving their record to 5-1 while handing the Sabres their first loss of the season. Freshman Gavin Rohlwing led the Titans with a career-high 17 kills, while sophomore Bryce Williams contributed 15 kills, 4 aces, and 11 digs, setting a program record with 15 total blocks. After falling behind two sets to none, Illinois Wesleyan mounted a remarkable comeback, winning the third set 25-22 to keep their hopes alive and then taking the fourth set 27-25 in a nail-biting battle. The final set was equally dramatic, with the Titans maintaining a slim lead and ultimately clinching the victory 16-14 after a Marian miscue. Key players like Brenden Reutter (30 assists), Vince DiCosola (22 assists), and Wilson Spaulding provided critical support throughout the match. The Titans will look to continue their momentum when they host Concordia University Chicago on Thursday, January 30th at 7 p.m.
The Southern Virginia University men’s volleyball team maintained their undefeated status by dominating a home tri-match against Averett and Roanoke, improving their record to 5-0. In their first match, the Knights crushed Averett 3-0, with brothers Jayton and Jett Hall contributing seven service aces and the team scoring the final thirteen points of the first set in a 25-2 thrashing. The second match against Roanoke saw Christian Sheaffer, the reigning national player of the week, lead the team with 12 kills, while Jason Wang impressed with six blocks and Gehrig Tolman providing 23 assists. Standout performances included Kyler Evans‘ impressive .714 hitting percentage and several key plays from players like Kimo Hughey, Brady Dastrup, and Isaac Carrillo. The Knights showcased their depth by giving newcomers playing time and maintaining complete control throughout both matches. Southern Virginia will next face Lancaster Bible College on Saturday, February 1st at 11:00 AM at the Barn.
North Park Men’s Volleyball dropped their home opener to Lakeland in straight sets (27-25, 26-24, 25-21), struggling with 15 service errors throughout the match. Junior middle blocker Jonah Johnsamson led the Vikings with nine kills, tying his career high, while senior middle blocker Sam Robinson added seven kills and senior outside hitter Ty Ingrao contributed six blocks, including a pair of solo blocks. The Vikings showed resilience in the third set, battling back from a 19-11 deficit by taking 10 of the next 12 points with kills from Ingrao, Gerald Malana, Braedon Lenon, and aces from Ingrao and Kenneth Ervin Jr. Lakeland‘s Elie Weinrich was the top performer with 10 kills, while Jakob Donohue added a pair of solo blocks for the Muskies. Despite the Vikings‘ late-set comeback efforts, Lakeland‘s Sage Xiong‘s kill and three North Park errors sealed the straight-sets victory for the Muskies.