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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 5, 2025) – Welcome to February where big matchups are on the horizon and a new team joins the top five. USC earned its eighth win and switched with BYU to make its first roundup appearance of 2025. Long Beach, UCI, UCLA and Hawaii comprise rest of the top five with a marquee meeting coming up on Friday when Long Beach hosts UCLA. In Division III, big changes to the rankings as NYU took the top spot, Vassar replaced Stevens at No. 3, and Juniata jumped up to No. 4.
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)
The Beach earned 21 votes to remain the No. 1 team in the AVCA rankings. Long Beach sits at 8-0 after most recently picking up two wins in Reno at the Silver State Showdown. The Beach swept Fort Valley State on Jan. 31 and Belmont Abbey on Feb. 1. The team will next turn its attention to the toughest challenge yet- two matches vs. No. 3 UCLA.
Match leaders vs. Belmont Abbey
Next up: Long Beach hosts No. 3 UCLA Friday Feb. 7 and then travels to Pauley Pavilion Wed. Feb. 12.
When and Watch: 7 p.m. PT both days on ESPN+
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/LBSU Players
Ben Braun was on the 2024 Men’s National Team that won gold at NORCECA Final 6 and silver at the 2024 NORCECA Pan Am Cup. He was also a member of the 2024 Collegiate National Team and the 2023 Beach Collegiate National Team. He had two kills and two blocks vs. Belmont Abbey.
Ford Harman was a member of the 2023 Beach U19 National Team. He had four digs vs. Belmont Abbey.
Nato Dickinson was a member of the Beach Collegiate National Team in 2024 and 2023 and competed at the 2024 Beach World University Championship. He had one kill, four blocks and one dig vs. Belmont Abbey.
Island Doty was a member of the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team. He had 14 assists vs. Belmont Abbey.
Dane Hillis was a member of the 2023 U21 National Team that took silver at the Pan Am Cup and also played on the 2022 U21 National Team that won gold at the Pan Am Cup. He had one kill and one block vs. Belmont Abbey.
Long Beach has six more members with NTDP connections. Kellen Larson was on the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the NORCECA Continental Championship and was on the Boys U19 National Teams in 2023 and 2022 that won gold medals at the U19 Pan Am Cup. Chris Connelly was on the U21 National Team in 2023 and 2022 and the U19 National Team in 2021 and 2020. Sebastian Rodriguez was a member of the 2023 Beach U23 National Team and the 2023 Beach Collegiate National Team. Isaiah Preuitt was on the 2023 U19 National Team that took gold at the NORCECA U19 Pan Am Cup. Sebastiano Sani was on the 2023 U19 National Team that placed fourth at the 2023 U19 World Championships and took gold at the NORCECA U19 Pan Am Cup. DiAeris McRaven was on the 2024 Men’s National Team that won gold at NORCECA Final 6 and silver at the 2024 NORCECA Pan Am Cup.
The 7-0 Anteaters received two first-place votes. UCI defeated Stanford on the road with two 3-0 wins Jan. 31 and Feb 1.
Match leaders vs. Stanford (Feb. 1)
Next up: UCI is at CUI Feb. 8 before two matches with USC next week
When and Watch: 7 p.m. PT vs. CUI on B1G+
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/UCI Players
Nolan Flexen was on the 2024 Men’s National Team that won gold at NORCECA Final 6 and silver at the 2024 NORCECA Pan Am Cup. He had nine kills, one ace, six blocks and six digs vs. Stanford (Feb. 1).
It was two wins and only one set dropped vs. Penn State and Ohio State in the Big Ten Challenge for UCLA as the Bruins avenged their lone loss of the season in a rematch of the First Point Challenge. UCLA is now 6-1 on the season.
Match leaders vs. Ohio State
Next up: UCLA heads to the Walter Pyramid to take on No. 1 Long Beach on Friday night before hosting Long Beach Feb. 12.
When and Watch: 7 p.m. PT Feb. 7 on ESPN+
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/UCLA Players
Andrew Rowan was a member of the 2023 NORCECA Pan Am Cup Final Six team that won gold. He was also on the 2022 U21 National Team that won gold at the Pan American Cup. He had two aces, two kills, 40 assists and six digs vs. Ohio State.
Cooper Robinson was on the 2024 Men’s National Team that won gold at NORCECA Final 6 and silver at the 2024 NORCECA Pan Am Cup. He had 17 kills, five aces, six blocks and five digs vs. Ohio State.
Zach Rama was on the 2024 Men’s National Team that won gold at NORCECA Final 6 and silver at the 2024 NORCECA Pan Am Cup. He was also on the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team that took home silver at the 2023 U21 Pan American Cup. He had 11 kills, two aces, four blocks and two digs vs. Ohio State.
Cameron Thorne was a member of the 2024 Collegiate National Team. He had five kills, one ace, six blocks and three digs vs. Ohio State.
UCLA has five more players on the roster with NTDP connections. Micah Wong Diallo was on the 2024 Men’s National Team that won gold at NORCECA Final 6. He was also a member of the 2024 Collegiate National Team and the Men’s U21 National Team that took home silver at the 2023 U21 Pan American Cup. Sean McQuiggan was a member of the 2024 Collegiate National Team. Trent Taliaferro was on the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team that took gold at the U21 NORCECA Continental Championship and the 2023 Boys U19 National Team that competed at the FIVB World Championship and took gold at the NORCECA U19 Pan Am Cup. Sean Kelly was on the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the NORCECA Continental Championship and was also a member of the Boys U19 National Team in 2023 and 2022 that both won gold at the Pan Am Cup. Kahale Clini was a member of the 2023 Boys U19 NORCECA Continental Championship Team.
Hawaii was tested against BYU over the weekend but came away with 3-2 and 3-1 wins to move to an 8-0 record. It’s the first time in program history that Hawaii has swept a season series with BYU in Provo. Entering the series, the Rainbow Warriors were just 4-25 all time vs. the Cougars in Provo.
Match leaders vs. BYU (Feb. 1)
Next up: Hawaii faces Stanford at home Feb. 5 and Feb. 7.
When and Watch: 7 p.m. both days on ESPN+
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/Hawaii
Tread Rosenthal was a member of the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the NORCECA Continental Championship. He was also on the 2023 U19 National Team that placed fourth at the U19 World Championships and won gold at the NORCECA U19 Pan Am Cup. He had two aces, 42 assists and four digs vs. BYU (Feb. 1).
Finn Kearney was a member of the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the NORCECA Continental Championship and the Boys U19 National Team in 2023 and 2022.
For the first time this season, we welcome the Trojans to the roundup as they bump BYU from the top five rankings. USC, led by AVCA Player of the Week and MPSF Offensive Player of the Week Dillon Klein racked up three more wins including over Ohio State and Penn State.
Match leaders vs. Penn State (Feb. 1)
Next up: vs. Dominican Feb. 8
When and Watch: 12 p.m. PT on B1G+
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/USC
Caleb Blanchette has been a member of the Beach U19 National Team since 2022. He was also on the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the 2024 NORCECA Championship and the 2022 Boys U19 Pan Am Cup team that won gold. He had 47 assists, one kill, one block and seven digs vs. Penn State.
Sterling Foley was a member of the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the NORCECA Continental Championship. He was Named MVP and Best Spiker. He was also a member of the Boys U19 National Team in 2022 and 2023. He had 11 kills, one block and three digs vs. Penn State.
Parker Tomkinson was a member of the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the NORCECA Continental Championship. He was also a member of the 2023 Boys U19 NORCECA Continental Championship Team. He had nine kills, four blocks and four digs vs. Penn State.
Dillon Klein (AVCA Player of the Week, MPSF Offensive Player of the week) was a member of the 2024 Men’s Collegiate National Team and the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team. He had 14 kills, one ace and five digs vs. Penn State.
Markus Olsson was a member of the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team. He had six kills, one ace, one block and two digs vs. Penn State.
NYU takes the top spot in the DIII rankings this week with 17 first-place votes. The Violets are 10-0 with the most wins out of our top five DIII teams after defeating Messiah, Misericordia and Nichols on the road in Pennsylvania last week.
Match leaders vs. Nichols
Kills: Lucas Osiecki (14)
Blocks: Emerson Evans (9)
Next up: NYU hits the road once again to face Ramapo Feb. 6 before returning home for a top-five matchup vs. Stevens.
When and Watch: 7 p.m. ET on Hudl
Southern Virginia is bumped down one slot this week, but just barely. The Knights received 13 first-place votes, but perhaps have had too easy of a schedule so far in the eyes of the AVCA to justify another week at the top. Even so, Southern Virginia kept rolling last week, still yet to lose a set and now at 6-0 after most recently defeating Lancaster Bible at home.
Match leaders vs. Lancaster Bible
Kills: Christian Sheaffer (12)
Digs: Justin Madsen (13)
Next up: Begin CVC play with matches at Drew and Wilkes this weekend
When and Watch: 7p.m. ET Feb. 7 and 11a.m. ET Feb. 8 on FloSports
We welcome Vassar to the roundup as they hit No. 3 in this week’s AVCA poll, a jump up three spots from its prior ranking. Vassar is 8-0 with maybe its standout win so far this season coming back on Jan. 18 vs. No. 9 Wentworth. Vassar most recently swept Hunter and Arcadia on Feb. 1.
Match leaders vs. Arcadia
Kills: Shawn Zheng (14) – UVC Rookie of the Week
Digs: Tucker Shearn (10)
Next up: Vassar hosts Misericordia and Lasell for a tri-match Feb. 8.
When and Watch: 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. ET on BoxCast
Juniata fell to Carthage at the end of last week for the team’s first loss, but rebounded with a big 3-0 win over then-No. 3 Stevens on Feb. 1 in the FrogJump Invitational. The 2024 NCAA quarterfinal rematch saw Tyler Goldsborough tie a career high for kills (23) to lead the Eagles and bump them up to No. 4 in this week’s rankings.
Match leaders vs. Stevens
Kills: Tyler Goldsborough – (23) Career high, CVC Athlete of the Week
Digs: Jeremiah Burden (12)
Next up: The Eagles host Messiah Feb. 7 and Rutgers-Newark Feb. 9.
When and Watch: 7 p.m. and 12 p.m. ET on FloSports
After falling to then No. 5 Juniata last week, the Ducks also took a subsequent two-spot tumble in the rankings but remain in the top five. Stevens was pushed to five sets in the next match vs. Baldwin Wallace but did come away with a win in the team’s last match of the FrogJump. The team looks to be fully back on track with a sweep of Hunter on Feb. 4
Match leaders vs. Hunter
Kills: Joshua Levandoske (11)
Digs: Titus Rodz (9)
Next up: Stevens and NYU will square off in a top five matchup on Feb 12.
When and Watch: 7 p.m. ET on NYU Athletics
NTDP PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
he AVCA did not change the rankings since last week’s roundup, so the top five for Division I/II remains intact even with two of those teams dropping recent matches. In Division III, the top-five rankings also remained the same. Southern Virginia earned 18 votes to remain atop the roundup and the poll for the second straight week.
Four teams ranked in the top 20 of the AVCA Men's Volleyball Poll, including No. 1 and two-time defending champion UCLA, continue the 2025 season at this weekend's Fourth Annual First Point Collegiate Challenge in Austin, Texas, Jan. 17-18.
For the first time, the Men's NCAA Volleyball Tournament has been expanded to an eight-team format. All schools have their place in the bracket set with opening matches beginning Tuesday, April 30. The week-long sprint for the trophy concludes with the championship match on Saturday, May 4. All matches will be held at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California and streamed on NCAA.com.
