Men's College Roundup for April 20

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 20, 2023) – It’s officially the postseason for all teams in the college roundup. With the first edition since the conclusion of the regular season, the DI/II division stays intact with Hawaii leading the charge and UC Irvine at No. 5. In the DIII division, Vassar still holds possession of the No. 1 slot in the rankings and only has one loss on the season. North Central (IL) rounds out the top rankings in DIII. 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

26-2 record after two wins against UCSD last weekend in the final matches of the regular season

Match Leaders vs. UCSD (Sat.):

Kills: Dimitrios Mouchlias (11) – AVCA Player of the week for April 9. No. 10 in the country in kills per set (3.93)
Digs: Brett Sheward (6)

Next Up: Will open postseason play in the Big West semifinals vs. either UCSB or UCSD on Friday afternoon

No. 2 UCLA

27-2 on the season with a most recent victory over Pepperdine on April 15

Match leaders vs. PEP:

Kills: Merrick McHenry (14)
Digs: David Ido (8)

Next up: Will play in the MPSF semifinals on Thursday night vs. GCU

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/UCLA players

Andrew Rowan had 48 assists, four digs and three blocks 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 13 kills, six blocks and three assists 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 14 kills, 12 blocks and two digs 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 (.515).

No. 3 Penn State

24-3 record after wrapping up the regular season with a win over Charleston (W.Va.) on Saturday

Match leaders vs. UCWV:

Kills: Michael Kowal (13)
Blocks: Owen Rose (7)

Next up: Will begin postseason play on Thursday night in the EIVA Tournament against George Mason in the semifinal match

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/PSU Players

Toby Ezeonu, nine kills and two blocks vs. UCWV, 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 (.499).

Brett Wildman, three kills, one ace, and one dig vs. UCWV, 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 44 assists, six digs and five blocks vs. UCWV, was a member of the 2021 Men’s Collegiate National Team. He is currently No. 6 in the country in assists per set (10.30).

No. 4 Long Beach State

20-3 on the season after most recently defeating UCI 3-2 on April 15

Match Leaders vs. UCI:

Kills: Sotiris Siapanis (16)
Blocks: Simon Torwie (8) – No. 1 in the country in blocks per set (1.620)

Next up: Will get set for the first match of the Big West Tournament beginning on Friday night

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/LBSU Players

Mason Briggs, who had 12 digs, two assists and one kill vs. UCI, 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 (2.40).

Clarke Godbold had 15 kills, five digs and one ace vs. UCI. 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. 6 in the country in blocks per set (1.098).

Shane Holdaway, who had seven kills, five blocks and one dig vs. UCI, 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 46 assists, nine digs and two blocks vs. UCI. 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

16-10 record after most recently dropping a close match with No. 4 LBSU on Saturday

Match Leaders vs. LBSU:

Kills: Francesco Sani (20) – No. 8 in the country in kills per set (3.99)
Digs: Cole Power (10)

Next up: Will take on CSUN in the Big West Championship on Thursday night

USA Volleyball National Team Development Team Program/UCI players

Francesco Sani, who had 20 kills, five aces and five blocks vs LBSU, was a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team and won bronze at the Pan American Cup. AVCA Player of the Week of April 2.

Cole Power, who had 10 digs and two assists vs. LBSU, was also a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team that won bronze at the Pan American Cup.

NCAA Division III

Vassar celebrates UVC Championship victory (Stockton Photo Inc./Vassar Athletics)

No. 1 Vassar

Crowned champion of the United Volleyball Conference for the second time in program history with a 30 win over St. John Fisher last Sunday

Match leaders vs SJF:

Kills: Billy Fan (14)
Blocks: Gavin van Beveren (3) – No. 1 in hitting percentage (.545), No. 4 in the country in blocks per set (1.130)

Next up: Vassar is on to the NCAA Division III Championships where they will face Baruch College in the first round on Friday night.

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

31-3 record and now back-to-back winners of the MAC Championship with a 3-2 win over No. 4 Messiah on Saturday

Match leaders vs. Mess:

Kills: Koby Sherman (16)
Digs: Louden Moran (8)

Next up: Will face Geneva College (Pa.) on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship

No. 3 Juniata

Defeated Rutgers-Newark in four sets to earn the program’s fourth Continental Volleyball Conference Championship last Saturday

Match leaders vs. RUN:

Kills: Kevin Duffy III (13) – No. 6 in the country in blocks per set (1.091) No. 4 in the country in hitting percentage (.452)
Blocks: Luke Hoffman (7) – No. 5 in the country in hitting percentage (.442)

Next up: Set to take on Baldwin Wallace in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship on Friday night

No. 4 Messiah

Lost 2-3 to No. 1 Stevens in the MAC Championship on Saturday

Match leaders vs. SU:

Kills: Mason Nissley (20)
Digs: Matt Knab (9)

Next up: Will face St. Joseph’s University Long Island in the first matchup of the NCAA Division III Championship

No. 5 North Central (IL)

Winners of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship for the first time in program history with a 3-1 victory over Carthage last Saturday

Match leaders vs. NPU:

Kills: Jared Moser (15)
Digs: Tyler Donovan (7) – No. 2 in the country in assists per set (10.35)

Next up: Will face Benedictine University in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championship on Friday

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.

4/19 vs. Lewis (W 3-0): 11 kills, 5 blocks, 1 ace

Trent Moser – BYU

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

4/19 vs. CUI (W 3-1): 8 kills, 5 aces, 4 digs

Heath Hughes – BYU

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

4/19 vs. CUI (W 3-1): 41 assists, 6 digs, 3 kills

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.

4/19 vs. McKendree (W 3-1): 16 kills, 17 digs, 4 aces

Nyherowo Omene – Princeton

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

4/14 vs. NJIT (W 3-1): 6 kills, 4 digs, 4 blocks

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 (4.99).

4/19 vs. GCU (L 0-3): 12 kills, 3 digs