Stevens players celebrate after a point (Mike McLaughlin Photography/Stevens Athletics)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 1, 2023) – Once again, this week’s college roundup sees no movement in the top five for the DI/II division as Hawaii remains the lone undefeated program. Meanwhile, the DIII division also sees no change from a week ago as the top five remain deadlocked with Stevens on top. 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

Undefeated and now at 13-0 after sweeping two matches with LIU last Wednesday and Friday, respectively

Match Leaders vs. LIU (Fri.):

  • Kills: Spyros Chakas (10)
  • Blocks: Cole Hogland (5) – No. 10 in the country in blocks per set (1.073)

Next Up: At home Wednesday to take on Pepperdine

No. 2 UCLA

15-1 record on the season after defeating UC Irvine 3-1 in two matches, home and away last weekend

Match leaders vs UCI (Sun.):

  • Kills: Merrick McHenry (15) – No. 5 in the country for hitting percentage (.470)
  • Digs: Ethan Champlin (8)

Next up: Home and away matches with Concordia beginning on Wednesday

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/UCLA players
Andrew Rowan had 43 assists and two blocks vs. UCI (Sun.). Andrew 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 nine kills, eight digs and two blocks vs. UCI (Sun.). 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 15 kills, seven blocks and one ace in the win against UCI (Sun.). 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.

No. 3 Penn State

13-1 on the season with a sweep over NJIT on the road to remain undefeated in EIVA play

Match leaders vs. NJIT (Sat.):

  • Kills: Toby Ezeonu (14) – No. 1 in the country in hitting percentage (.506)
  • Digs: Ryan Merk (6)

Next up: On the road to close out February with matches against Concordia and UCI this weekend

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/PSU Players
Toby Ezeonu, who had 14 kills and four blocks vs. NJIT (Sat.), was a member of the 2022 Men’s National Team that earned bronze in the Pan American Cup.

Brett Wildman, who had five kills, three digs and one assist vs. NJIT (Sat.), 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.

No. 4 Long Beach State

Remain at 8-2 after last defeating NJIT 3-0 on Feb. 18

Match Leaders vs. NJIT (2/18):

  • Kills: Shane Holdaway (8)
  • Blocks: Simon Thorwie (7) – 1 in the country in blocks per set (1.735)

Next up: LBSU will return to action on March 3 at home when they take on Ball State.

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/LBSU Players
Mason Briggs, who had five digs and four assists vs. NJIT (2/18), 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 (2.59).

Clarke Godbold, who had seven kills and four digs vs NJIT (2/18), 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. 4 in the country in blocks per set (1.235).

Shane Holdaway, who had eight kills and three blocks vs. NJIT (2/18), was on the 2021 Men’s Collegiate National Team and the 2021 Men’s National Team that earned bronze at the Pan American Cup.

No. 5 Grand Canyon

Suffered first loss of the season to drop to 14-1, but remain in the top five after losing the second of two matches to Pepperdine by a score of 3-2 last Friday

Match leaders vs. PEP (Fri.):

  • Kills: Camden Gianni (14)
  • Blocks: Christian Janke (6)

Next up: Home vs. BYU on Friday night.

USA Volleyball National Team Development Team Program/GCU players
Camden Gianni, who had 14 kills, five kills, five digs and one ace vs. PEP (Fri.), was on the 2021 Men’s Collegiate National Team and the 2021 Men’s National Team, where he earned a fifth-place finish in the NORCECA Continental Cup.

Rico Wardlow, who had six kills, two blocks and one ace vs. PEP (Fri.), was a member of the 2019 Boys Youth National Team that placed 15th at the FIVB U19 World Championship.

NCAA Division III

No. 1 Stevens

17-2 record after Stevens Tri Match #3 which included wins against Misericordia and Juniata

Match leaders vs. Juniata:

  • Kills: Koby Sherman (9)
  • Digs: Phu-Quy Ho (10)

Next up: On the road to face Wilkes University on Wednesday

Andrew Kim hits for Vassar (Stockton Photo, Inc.)

No. 2 Vassar

Now at 13-1 after defeating Nazareth on Saturday

Match leaders vs. NC:

  • Kills: Andrew Kim (13)
  • Digs: Jacob Kim (10)

Next up: Traveling to face Misericordia Friday night

USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/Vassar Players
Vaughn Ramsey, who had nine kills and five digs vs. MIT on 2/18, was a member of the 2020 Men’s Beach Collegiate National Team.

No. 3 Juniata

15-2 record after going 1-1 in the Stevens Tri-Match #3 last weekend

Match leaders vs. Stevens:

  • Kills: Tyler Goldsborough (14)
  • Digs: Tyler Goldsborough (6)

Next up: Juniata will host Roanoke on Friday

No. 4 Carthage

Now with a 9-3 record after beating Concordia University (Wis.) 3-0 last Thursday

Match leaders vs. Concordia:

  • Kills: Zach Bulthuis (7)
  • Digs: Mitch Geiger (7)

Next up: On the road for another match with North Park on Wednesday.

No. 5 Springfield

15-2 overall record after defeating Eastern Nazarene last week

Match leaders vs. EN:

  • Kills: Jarrett Anderson (13)
  • Digs: Evan Costley (7)

Next up: Home for another game against Eastern Nazarene on Wednesday

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.

2/25 vs. Quincy University (W 3-0): 19 kills, 5 digs, 1 block

 

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

2/25 vs. CUI (W 3-2): 11 kills, 9 digs, 1 assist

 

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

2/25 vs. Lindenwood (L 3-2): 25 kills, 17 digs, 3 assists

 

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

2/25 vs Harvard (W 3-1): 9 kills, 4 blocks, 4 digs

 

  • Francesco Sani – UC Irvine

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

2/26 vs UCLA (L 3-1): 10 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace

  • Cole Gillis – UC Irvine

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.

2/26 vs UCLA (L 3-1): 12 kills, 4 digs, 2 aces

 

  • 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.

2/24 vs GCU (W 3-2): 23 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks