1/30/25
We continue with our series on Impact freshman around the league for D3 Men’s Volleyball with 6 more first year players who have had quick starts and high impact on their teams.
Brady Pichler – Wisconsin Lutheran
After a high school career where he recorded 620 kills and 73 blocks, Brady Pichler has fit into the Wisconsin Lutheran lineup like a glove as a freshman. The 6′ 3″ right side has accumulated 77 kills over his first five matches for the Warriors. Considering WLC has had Mount Union, Cal Lutheran, and UC Santa Cruz as opponents, he has shown he can play against top competition at the D3 level. He has double digit kill totals in every match he has played, has 12 total blocks, and is hitting .305 thus far. WLC had a rough ride last season but the recruitment of players like Brady will provide a nice foundation for the future.
Matt Peralta – NJCU
Matt had a storied high school career where he recorded 816 kills, 164 blocks, 290 assists, 348 digs, and 80 aces as a Hackensack Comet. Peralta was a two-time North Jersey Player of the Year. So far at NJCU, the 6′ 2″ outside hitter has 48 kills and 31 digs against a heavy schedule of opponents that includes Nichols, Stevens, Vassar, and NYU. Matt has 7 aces and 3 total blocks for the Gothic Knights. He ranks second on the team in total points trailing only OH Marcus Pardasie, last year’s freshman standout. Watch for Matt to continue to develop under Coach Edra and be a recognized force in the NJAC and Skyline.
Jason Wang – Southern Virginia
Trying to break into a lineup as deep as Southern Virginia’s is not the easiest task in the world. But Jason Wang, a 6′ 7″ middle, is making the most of his freshman experience thus far. With 21 kills and 12 total blocks, Jason has been getting his reps and is starting to make his mark. He has just 6 hitting errors over 13 sets played and carries a .417 hitting percentage over his first 5 matches. His 6-block performance against Roanoke was particularly noticeable. With Kristo Bianchin and Curtis Stone set to graduate after this season, Jason may have a permanent home for the next three years as middle for the Knights.
Ezra Oesterling – Thiel
With 119 kills over 7 matches, Ezra Oesterling has had a smashing start to his collegiate volleyball career at Thiel. The 6′ 3″ outside hitter from Shelocta, PA, has been a welcome addition for the Tomcats. Ezra was a 3-time PVCA All-State selection as well as a 4-time PIAA District 6 champion during his HS days. Oesterling has also added 62 digs, 6 service aces, and 4 total blocks to his first-year resume thus far. His 24-kill performance against Penn State Altoona was a hallmark and he currently has a 7-game streak of double-digit kills in the matches he has played. Ezra smacked 20 kills against Wittenberg and 17 against Mount Union in recent matches. #2 is leading the team by far with 127.5 points to date.
Kaodi Wokocha – Eastern
Kaodi Wokocha’s overall play at Eastern has been outstanding during the month of January. The 6′ 2″ OH is leading the Eagles in total points. He has accumulated 69 kills, 45 digs and a receive percentage at .974, playing in every set for Eastern thus far. After an 11-17 record in 2024, the Eagles have started the year at 4-2 and should sustain that success through the beginning of their very tough MAC schedule and a non-conference matchup with SVU. Kaodi has shown great athleticism and sound defense thus far for Eastern.
Emmanuel Cochran – Lehman
Emmanuel Cochran has just three matches under his belt for the Lehman College Lightning, but to say he has been an impact player would be an understatement of his abilities shown thus far. He is averaging 16 points per match and has already put down 34 kills, 10 total blocks, and 8 service aces. After finishing last season at 11-15, the Lightning are off to a 3-0 start and Emmanuel is leading the team in every attack category, aces, and blocks. The 6′ 4″ middle blocker from Mott Hall HS in Harlem, New York City will be a major key to the Lightning success in 2025.
Our series on stand-out freshman’s will continue this weekend. Stay tuned.