Men's College Roundup for April 14

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 14, 2023) – As the regular season wraps up and the postseason begins, this week’s college roundup remains unchanged in the DI/II division. However, the DIII division has seen a major shift at the top of the list. Vassar now stands alone at number one in the rankings after Stevens suffered its third loss of the season. North Central (IL) has also come in and taken the No. 5 spot away from Springfield. The college roundup showcases some of the key matches of the week while also highlighting athletes who are part of the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program.

(rankings source: AVCA.org)

NCAA Division I/II

No. 1 Hawaii

24-2 record after two wins against No. 5 UC Irvine last Friday and Saturday

Match Leaders vs. UCI (Sat.):

• Kills: Dimitrios Mouchlias (12) – AVCA Player of the Week. No. 9 in the country in kills per set (3.97)
• Blocks: Cole Hogland (4)

Next Up: Will finish off the final homestand of the season on Friday and Saturday at home against UC San Diego

No. 2 UCLA

26-2 on the season with a most recent victory over Pepperdine on the road

Match leaders vs. PEP:

• Kills: Ethan Champlin (19)
• Digs: Troy Gooch (7)

Next up: Will face Pepperdine again for the final match of the regular season on Saturday night

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/UCLA players

Andrew Rowan had 47 assists, five blocks, and one ace vs PEP. He was part of the 2022 U21 National Team that won gold at the Pan American Cup. Andrew was named MVP, Best Setter and Best Server on the U21 Team.

Ethan Champlin had 19 kills, four digs and one block vs. PEP. Ethan was a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team that took home bronze at the Pan American Cup Final Six and the 2021 Men’s National Team that also earned bronze at the Pan American Cup.

Merrick McHenry had seven blocks, six digs, and one ace vs. PEP. Merrick was on the 2022 Men’s National Team that took home bronze at the Pan American Cup and the Pan American Cup Final Six. He was also a member of the 2021 Men’s National Team that earned bronze at the Pan American Cup.  He is No. 1 in the country in hitting percentage (.500).

Alex Knight had 10 kills, six blocks and three assists vs. PEP. Alex was a member of the 2021 Men’s U21 National training team and the 2020 Men’s Junior National Training Team.

No. 3 Penn State

22-3 record on the season and capped off a perfect road trip with two wins against George Mason last weekend

Match leaders vs. GMU (Sat.):

• Kills: Cal Fisher (14)
• Digs: Ryan Merk (10)

Next up: Will return home to host Charleston (WV) for two matches this weekend beginning on Friday night

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/PSU Players

Toby Ezeonu, who had four blocks, two kills and two digs vs. GMU (Sat.), was a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team that earned bronze in the Pan American Cup. He is No. 2 in the country in hitting percentage (.486).

Brett Wildman, who had seven aces, four digs, and three blocks vs. GMU (Fri.), was a member of the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team, winning bronze at the Pan Am Cup and the Pan Am Cup Final Six.

Cole Bogner, who had 35 assists, three blocks and one ace vs. GMU (Sat.), was a member of the 2021 Men’s Collegiate National Team. He is currently No. 7 in the country in assists per set (10.19).

No. 4 Long Beach State

18-3 on the season after most recently defeating CSUN in two matches last weekend

Match Leaders vs. CSUN (Sat.):

• Kills: Sotiris Siapanis (9)
• Digs: Mason Briggs (7)

Next up: Will see No. 5 UCI in home and away matches this weekend beginning on Friday

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/LBSU Players

Mason Briggs, who had seven digs and one assist vs. CSUN (Sat.), was part of the 2022 U.S. Men’s National Team and was on the roster for the FIVB World Championship, where the team finished sixth. He is currently No. 5 in the country in digs per set (2.45).

Clarke Godbold had nine kills three blocks and three digs vs. CSUN (Sat.). He has twice been named to the U.S. Men’s U21 National Training Team and competed at the FIVB U19 World Championship in 2019. He is No. 5 in the country in blocks per set (1.095).

Shane Holdaway, who had five kills, two digs and one ace vs. CSUN (Sat.), was on the 2021 Men’s Collegiate National Team and the 2021 Men’s National Team that earned bronze at the Pan American Cup.

Aidan Knipe had 28 assists, three digs and one ace vs. CSUN (Sat.). Aidan was a member of the 2019 Boys Youth National Training Team, as well as the 2018 Boys Youth National Team that earned silver at the NORCECA Continental Championship

No. 5 UC Irvine

16-8 record after losing two matches to No. 1 Hawaii last weekend

Match Leaders vs. UH (Sat.):

• Kills: Francesco Sani (15) – No. 7 in the country in kills per set (4.04)
• Digs: Cole Power (8)

Next up: UCI play home and away matches against LBSU this Friday and Saturday

USA Volleyball National Team Development Team Program/UCI players

Francesco Sani, who had 15 kills, four digs and two blocks vs. HU (Sat.), was a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team and won bronze at the Pan American Cup. He was last week’s AVCA Player of the Week.

Cole Gillis had 12 kills, four digs, and one block vs. HU (Sat.). Cole was a member of the 2022 Men’s Beach Collegiate National Team and played with the U.S. Men’s National Team in 2021, earning bronze at the Pan American Cup.

NCAA Division III

No. 1 Vassar

The roundup’s new No. 1 and now at 22-1 on the season with a most recent victory vs. Ramapo in the final match of the regular season last weekend

Match leaders vs RC:

• Kills: Joseph Harrington (12)
• Digs: Jordan Klembczyk (9)

Next up: Will play either Elmira or MIT in the United Volleyball Conference Semifinals on Saturday afternoon

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/Vassar Players

Vaughn Ramsey, who had 14 kills, two aces and three digs on 4/1 vs. AIC, was a member of the 2020 Men’s Beach Collegiate National Team.

No. 2 Stevens

30-3 record after defeating Misericordia in the MAC Semifinals

Match leaders vs. MU:

• Kills: Percy Bickford (9)
• Digs: Louden Moran (6)

Next up: Will host No. 4 Messiah in the MAC Championship game on Saturday.

No. 3 Juniata

27-2 record on the season after most recently defeating Drew last Saturday

Match leaders vs. DU:

• Kills: Kevin Duffy III (18) – No. 6 in the country in blocks per set (1.100) No. 4 in the country in hitting percentage (.467)
• Blocks: Luke Hoffman (6)

Next up: Will face Marymount (Va.) in the Continental Volleyball Conference Tournament Semifinals on Friday

No. 4 Messiah

25-4 on the season after a most recent victory over Arcadia in the semifinal round of the MAC Championships

Match leaders vs. RCNJ:

• Kills: Mason Nissley (26)
• Digs: Owen Hanzelman (13)

Next up: Will face No. 2 Stevens in the MAC Championship on Saturday

No. 5 North Central (IL)

21-3 record on the season and recently won the semifinal matchup with North Park University in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament

Match leaders vs. NPU:

• Kills: Ben Williams (13)
• Digs: Jared Moser (11)

Next up: Will face Carthage in the championship match on Saturday

NTDP PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

• Kaleb Jenness – Ball State

Kaleb was a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team and won bronze at the Pan American Cup.

4/8 vs. Purdue Ft. Wayne (W 3-0): 15 kills, 8 digs, 3 blocks

• Trent Moser – BYU

Trent was on the 2022 Men’s U21 National Team.

3/31 vs. USC (W 3-1): 2 kills, 2digs, 1 ace

• Heath Hughes – BYU

Heath was on the 2022 Men’s Beach Collegiate National Team and played in the 2022 FISU Beach World University Championships.

3/31 vs. USC (W 3-1): 49 assists, 8 digs, 1 kill

• Jacob Pasteur – Ohio State

Jacob was a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team and won bronze at the Pan American Cup. Jacob earned AVCA Player of the Week honors for the week of March 26.

4/8 vs. Loyola Chicago (W 3-0): 9 kills, 9 digs, 3 blocks

• Nyherowo Omene – Princeton

Nyherowo was on the 2022 Men’s National Team and won bronze at the Pan American Cup.

4/13 vs. Charleston (W 3-1): 10 kills, 4 blocks, 1 ace

• Jaylen Jasper – Pepperdine

Jaylen is a three-time member of the U.S. Men’s Collegiate National Team and was on the 2018 Men’s Junior National Team. Jaylen earned AVCA Player of the Week honors for the week of Feb. 26. Currently No. 2 in the country in kills per set (5.10).

4/13 vs. UCLA (L 3-1): 17 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks

• Nathaniel Gates – Stanford

Nathaniel was a member of the 2021 Men’s U21 National Training Team and the 2020 Men’s Junior National Training Team.

4/8 vs. GCU (W 3-2): 13 kills, 5 blocks, 2 digs