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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 5, 2024) – The college roundup returns for the first time in the new year! As the season begins, we look at the first AVCA poll of 2024 and give you the early look at your projected front-runners this season. 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 defending national champion only had two losses last season and began the 2024 campaign with wins over Fort Valley State and Morehouse, two SIAC schools that started play in 2021-22 thanks to a grant from First Point Volleyball Foundation and USA Volleyball.
Match leaders vs. Morehouse:
Next up: at Lewis on Jan. 11
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/UCLA players:
Andrew Rowan had four kills, two digs and 30 assists vs. Fort Valley State. He was a member of the 2023 NORCECA Pan Am Cup Final Six team that won gold and the 2023 NORCECA Pan American Cup team that placed fifth. He was also on the 2022 U21 National Team that won gold at the Pan American Cup.
Ethan Champlin had 13 kills, 10 digs and one ace vs. Fort Valley State. He was on the 2023 NORCECA Pan Am Cup Final Six team that won gold and the 2023 NORCECA Pan American Cup team that placed fifth. Ethan was also a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team that took home bronze at the Pan American Cup Final Six.
Micah Wong Diallo, who had six kills, four blocks and one dig vs. Morehouse, was a member of the Men’s U21 National Team that took home silver at the 2023 U21 Pan American Cup.
Alex Knight had nine kills, three digs and two assists vs. Fort Valley State. Alex was a member of the 2021 Men’s U21 National training team and the 2020 Men’s Junior National Training Team.
Merrick McHenry had three kills and two digs vs. Fort Valley State. Merrick was a member of the 2023 NORCECA Pan American Cup team that placed fifth. He was also on the 2022 NORCECA Pan Am Cup and Pan Am Cup Final Six teams that both earned bronze medals.
Zach Rama, who had 10 kills and three aces vs. Morehouse, was on the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team that took home silver at the 2023 U21 Pan American Cup.
The Beach returns four starters from last season where the team went 21-5 overall and fell in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament to eventual champion UCLA. Long Beach will play Long Island in the first match of the season on Friday night.
Next up: Will face Saint Francis (Pa.) this weekend, followed by a road match at Merrimack.
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/LBSU Players
Mason Briggs was on the 2023 NORCECA Pan Am Cup Final Six team that won gold. He was also 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.
Clarke Godbold was a member of the 2023 Collegiate National Team. He was also twice named to the U.S. Men’s U21 National Training Team and competed at the FIVB U19 World Championship in 2019.
Sebastian Rodriguez was a member of the 2023 Beach U23 National Team and the 2023 Beach Collegiate National Team.
Ben Braun was a member of the 2023 Beach Collegiate National Team.
Dane Hillis was a member of the 2023 U21 National Team that took silver at the Pan Am Cup and the 2022 U21 National Team that won gold at the 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.
Chris Connelly was on the U21 National Team in 2023 and 2022 and the U19 National Team in 2021 and 2020.
Aiden Knipe 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.
The 2023 NCAA runner-up opened the season with a 3-0 win over No. 10 Loyola Chicago on Jan. 3. This extended the Rainbow Warriors’ win streak in season openers to 11 dating back to 2014.
Match leaders vs. Loyola Chicago:
Next up: Will face No. 10 Loyola Chicago again on Friday before two games against Emmanuel next week.
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/Hawaii Players
Chaz Galloway, who had five kills, eight digs and one ace vs. Loyola Chicago, was a member of the 2023 Men’s Collegiate National Team.
Kai Rodriguez was a member of the 2023 Beach U19 National Team and won gold at the 2023 Caribbean Beach Championship with Jackson Herbert.
Tread Rosenthal, who had 32 assists, five digs and two aces vs. Loyola Chicago, was a member of the 2023 U19 National Team that placed fourth at the U19 World Championships and won gold at the NORCECA U19 Pan Am Cup. He was named MVP and Best Setter at the 2023 Pan Am Cup. It was his second year in a row claiming the Best Setter title after he competed with the U19 team in 2022 that also took home gold at the Pan Am Cup.
Three of the top-five teams in the final 2023 AVCA poll were Big West teams. UC Irvine continues the trend to begin 2024 with a No. 4 ranking. The team will open the season with a home match vs. George Mason on Jan. 9.
USA Volleyball National Team Development Team Program/UCI players
Cole Power was a member of the 2023 Collegiate National Team. He was also a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team that took bronze at the Pan Am Cup.
Akhil Tangutur was on the 2022 Men’s Beach Collegiate National Team as well as the 2019 Boys Youth National Training team and the 2018 Boys Youth National Team that took silver at the NORCECA Continental Championship.
The Buckeyes begin the season in the top five after finishing 23-10 overall and 11-3 in MIVA regular-season play last year. Ohio State defeated North Greenville University in the season opener 3-0 on Jan. 3.
Match leaders vs. North Greenville University:
Next up: Will host Daemen University and St. Francis on Jan 7. and Jan 8.
USA Volleyball National Team Development Team Program/Ohio State players
Shane Wetzel, who had seven kills and four digs vs. North Greenville, was on the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team that took silver at the Pan Am Cup. He was also on the 2022 U21 National Team that won gold.
Jacob Pasteur, who had 12 kills, four aces and two digs, was a member of the 2023 NORCECA Pan Am Cup team that finished fifth. He was also on the 2022 Pan Am Cup team that finished third and was on the 2022 week one VNL roster. Pasteur was selected as the 2024 MIVA Preseason Player of the Year for the second-consecutive season.
Ben Putnam was on the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team.
Kyle Teune was on the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team that earned silver at the 2023 Pan Am Cup and the 2022 Pan Am Cup team that took home gold.
The defending national champions went 35-3 in 2023 on the way to the program’s second national title. The 35 wins set a program record for single season victories. The Ducks begin the 2024 campaign with an exhibition match vs. No. 3 Vassar on Friday night. They will travel to Princeton for another exhibition before starting the regular season at Sacred Heart Jan. 10.
The Cardinals were runners-up to Stevens last season, setting a new program benchmark for overall record at 25-4. North Central was 11-0 in conference play and made its first appearance in the NCAA Championship match. North Central will have exhibition matches with McKendree and Saint Xavier before officially beginning the season on Jan. 18 with a road match vs. Dominican University (Ill.).
Vassar finished last season at 26-2, falling in the semifinal of the NCAA DIII Tournament to North Central. Vassar was selected as the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) coaches’ poll preseason favorite for 2024. The team begins play on Jan. 12 vs. Adrian College at the Cal Lutheran Invitational.
Messiah begins the 2024 season later this month when they will host Drew University on Jan. 20. Last season, Messiah posted a 27-6 record during the regular season and fell to Stevens in the NCAA DIII semifinal 0-3.
Juniata rounds out the top five after putting up 30 wins and losing only three matches in 2023. The team will play an exhibition match against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Jan. 6 before officially beginning the season at Stevenson on Jan. 13.
NTDP PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Trent was on the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team that took silver at the Pan Am Cup and the 2022 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the Pan Am Cup.
Next up: Season opener 1/5 vs. Ball State
Nyherowo was on the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team that took silver at the Pan Am Cup and the 2022 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the Pan Am Cup.
Next up: Season opener 1/8 vs. Queens University of Charlotte
Ryan was on the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team that took silver at the Pan Am Cup.
Next up: Season opener 1/5 vs. Central State
Wesley was a member of the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team. He was also on the 2022 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the Pan Am Cup where he was named Best Blocker.
Next up: Season opener 1/5 vs. Fort Valley State
The Final Four are set in the NCAA DI/II Men’s Volleyball Tournament with semifinal matches set for Thursday and the championship round May 6 at 2 p.m. PDT. The Division III Tournament has been decided as the Stevens Ducks are your 2023 champions.
League championships are now in the rearview mirror across all divisions as the top teams in NCAA men’s volleyball now shift their full attention toward the tournament. The NCAA DI/II bracket has been announced, with all matches hosted by George Mason in Fairfax, Va. The Division III Championship is in the semifinal round and currently being hosted by Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Md.
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 number No. 1 slot in the rankings and only has one loss on the season.
Setter, 6-7
Outside Hitter, 6-3
Middle Blocker, 6-9
Middle Blocker, 6-7
Outside Hitter, 6-9
Libero, 6-0
Outside Hitter, 6-3
Outside Hitter, 6-8
Libero, 5-10
6-4
Setter (indoor), 6-8
Outside Hitter, 6-4
Opposite, 6-7
Outside Hitter, 6-5
Outside Hitter, 6-6
Opposite, 6-8
Middle Blocker, 6-8
Libero, 6-0
Middle Blocker, 6-10
