Milwaukee, WI – After navigating a brutal early-season schedule filled with ranked opponents, the #23 MSOE Raiders made an emphatic statement this weekend at the Kern Center, sweeping three consecutive matches and announcing their return to the top-15 discussion in Division III men’s volleyball.
The Raiders (7-4) delivered three dominant performances over a three-day span, starting Friday night with a sweep of North Central College before producing back-to-back masterclass displays Sunday against #3 University of California-Santa Cruz and #25 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The trio of victories extended MSOE’s winning streak to three matches and provided the perfect response to a challenging stretch that included a heartbreaking five-set loss to #7 Loras College just a week earlier.
Finding Their Rhythm Against North Central
Friday night’s 3-0 victory over the Cardinals (6-4) set the tone for the weekend, with MSOE finding its offensive balance and serving prowess. Seth Thomas led the way with nine kills and nine digs while adding an ace, demonstrating the all-around game that has made him the Raiders’ most consistent weapon. Parker Rings distributed 24 assists as MSOE hit its stride, particularly in a devastating third set where the Raiders dominated 25-10.
The serving game came alive in that decisive frame, with Thomas nailing three aces during a dominant 10-1 run. Hunter Carroll added two more from the service line, and Brendan Nesemann contributed another as MSOE built an insurmountable 20-5 lead. Matthew Schultz anchored the defense with four blocks, while Jack Stolzer delivered the finishing kill. The match featured a thrilling second-set comeback, with MSOE rallying from a 16-10 deficit to win 29-27 on a North Central rotation violation.
Upset Special: Raiders Stun #3 Santa Cruz
Sunday morning’s victory over UC-Santa Cruz (11-2) represented MSOE’s signature win of the season to date. Thomas continued his stellar weekend with 11 kills while adding crucial back-to-back aces in the second set to seal a 25-21 win. Gregory Kubon and Carroll each contributed nine kills as the Raiders spread the offensive attack across multiple weapons.
Rings orchestrated the upset with 38 assists, finding open attackers throughout the three-set sweep. James Zippay provided defensive stability with eight digs, while the front line imposed its will at the net. Carroll led the blocking effort with five rejections, with Schultz adding four more as MSOE turned back the Banana Slugs’ offensive attempts. The 25-15, 25-21, 25-22 victory proved the Raiders could compete with any team in the nation when playing their brand of volleyball.
Record-Breaking Afternoon: Schultz Makes History
The afternoon match against Wisconsin-Stevens Point (5-7) will be remembered for Matthew Schultz’s historic performance. The middle blocker crushed 13 kills on just 14 attempts for a .929 kill percentage, the best single-match mark in MSOE program history. The near-perfect offensive display highlighted a dominant 3-0 sweep that saw the Raiders win 25-20, 25-17, 25-13.
Schultz also terrorized from the service line, delivering three consecutive aces in the second set to stake MSOE to an 11-6 lead. Callan Harris led all players with 14 kills while adding eight digs for another double-double performance. Ryan Huff came off the bench to make an impact, serving three aces including the second-set clincher. Kubon added multiple kills during crucial runs, and Rings continued his excellent weekend of setting.
Resilience Through Adversity
The weekend’s success carries extra significance given the gauntlet MSOE has faced. The early-season schedule included road losses to #2 Carthage College, Augustana, and Illinois Wesleyan, along with the gut-wrenching 3-2 home loss to #14 Loras. That five-set battle demonstrated MSOE’s ability to compete with ranked opponents, but falling short in close matches had raised questions about the Raiders’ ability to finish against elite competition.
This weekend answered those questions emphatically. Three sweeps, including an upset of a top-10 team, proved MSOE has turned the corner. The combination of Thomas’s consistency, Schultz’s dominance, Harris’s athleticism, and Rings’s distribution has created an offensive attack that can challenge anyone. Add in improved serving and solid defense, and the Raiders have positioned themselves as a legitimate national contender.
Championship Aspirations
Now riding a three-match winning streak and sporting a 7-4 record that doesn’t fully reflect their quality of play against a murderous schedule, MSOE faces another test Friday night when #5 California Lutheran University visits the Kern Center at 7:00 p.m. A win would give the Raiders four consecutive victories over quality opponents and likely vault them into the top-10 rankings.
As conference play approaches, MSOE has proven it belongs in the national championship conversation. The challenging early schedule that tested their resolve has forged a battle-tested squad ready to make noise in the postseason.