1/7/2026
Mechanicsburg, PA – As Justin Beachy enters his ninth season at the helm of Messiah University men’s volleyball, the Falcons find themselves in familiar territory: loaded with talent, battle-tested, and hungry for another postseason run.
Coming off a 2025 campaign that ended in the NCAA National Quarterfinals, Messiah returns enough firepower to make another deep tournament push. But the path won’t be easy. The Middle Atlantic Conference has become a gauntlet, with Stevens and Misericordia both possessing the talent to derail any championship aspirations.
The Coaching Continuity Advantage
Beachy’s track record speaks for itself. With a career record of 133-61 heading into 2026, the founding head coach has built Messiah into a perennial contender. His 2025 MAC and AVCA Region III Coach of the Year honors validate what those who follow the program already knew: Beachy knows how to develop talent and maximize his roster.
Assistant coach Matt Marshall, also entering his ninth season, continues to be the program’s recruiting architect. The 2026 class he helped assemble adds critical size up front, addressing one of the few potential weaknesses from last season.
The Core Returns
The Falcons’ championship window remains wide open thanks to the return of setter Brandon Sharp, arguably the most important player on the roster. The junior was named a 2025 AVCA Second Team All-American for good reason, posting over 1,000 assists (10.01 per set) while adding 183 digs and 54 blocks. Sharp’s court vision and high-IQ distribution make Messiah’s offense hum, and his ability to integrate six new freshmen into the system will be crucial.
Todd Snyder provides continuity in the middle after an explosive freshman campaign that earned him 2025 MAC Rookie of the Year honors. His .378 hitting percentage, 78 blocks, and 22 aces announced his arrival as one of the conference’s elite middle hitters. With Ryan Givens’ departure, Snyder steps into the alpha middle role, and early indications suggest he’s ready for the responsibility.
On the pins, seniors Alex Kagoro and Tyler McConnell bring veteran leadership and proven production. Kagoro’s 216 kills and AVCA All-Region honors last season showcased his ability to terminate in crucial moments. McConnell, meanwhile, was a workhorse with 235 kills and 170 digs, providing balance on both sides of the ball.
The Losses Sting
Make no mistake: replacing Ryan Givens, Conner Stauffer, and Jacob Hamm won’t be easy. Givens was a three-time All-American who finished 2025 leading the MAC in hitting percentage (.429) while posting 195 kills and 75 blocks. He was the offensive fulcrum, the guy who made plays when the set wasn’t perfect.
Stauffer, the 2025 MAC Defensive Player of the Year with 153 digs, was the defensive anchor. His ability to read hitters and extend rallies gave Messiah’s transition game life.
Hamm’s 240 kills provided another reliable weapon, particularly when opponents keyed on Kagoro or McConnell.
Those three combined for over 600 kills and anchored both sides of the ball. The question isn’t whether Messiah can replace that production, it’s how quickly the newcomers can step up.
The Freshman Infusion
Six freshmen join the roster, and several could see immediate playing time. Connor Delaney, a 6’7″ middle hitter from San Rafael, California, brings the kind of size that can change games at the net. Tyler Good (OH, 6’0″), Connor Himelfarb (OH, 6’3″), Aidan Dunwoody (DS/L, 6’2″), Everett Macurda (RS, 6’4″), and Adam McGarvey (S, 6’1″) round out a class that adds depth across every position.
The coaching staff’s challenge will be accelerating their development while maintaining the championship-caliber play that defined last season.
The Conference Gauntlet
The MAC preseason poll tells the story: this is a three-team race. Stevens earned the top spot with 62 points and six first-place votes. Messiah sits at No. 2 with 58 points and three first-place votes, while Misericordia checks in at No. 3 with 51 points.
Translation: every match matters. The February 24 road trip to Misericordia and the March 21 showdown at Stevens will likely determine conference seeding and tournament positioning. Messiah hosts Stevens for a heavyweight rematch on March 21, a date that’s already circled on every calendar in Mechanicsburg.
The Non-Conference Test
Before the conference grind begins, Messiah faces several measuring-stick opponents. The season opener against Cairn and Grove City on January 10 provides a home-court warm-up, but the January 23 neutral-site clash with Wentworth will reveal whether this team can handle ranked competition early in the season.
The March 7 home dual against Widener and Vassar offers another barometer test, giving the coaching staff a chance to see how the roster has developed heading into the conference stretch run.
The Verdict
Messiah enters 2026 with legitimate Final Four potential. Sharp’s presence alone makes them dangerous, and the supporting cast around him is championship-caliber. But questions remain about depth, particularly on defense and in the back row, where Stauffer’s absence looms large.
The path to another quarterfinal appearance (or beyond) runs through Stevens and Misericordia. If Snyder continues his trajectory, if the freshmen adapt quickly, and if Beachy’s system clicks as it has in years past, the Falcons could be cutting down nets in May.
But this isn’t 2025. The talent is there, but nothing is guaranteed. The MAC is too good, the margin for error too thin. Messiah’s championship window is open, but so is everyone else’s.
The season starts January 10.