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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 6, 2025) – So many matches and so little time as we bring you another edition of the men’s college roundup. It’s a week with a match seemingly every day up until the Outrigger Invitational. We are highlighting the jump from Hawaii up to No. 3 and the slide of UCI down to No. 4 after the Rainbow Warriors swept the Anteaters in two matches last week. In DIII, Stevens falls two spots, allowing Springfield to take No. 3 and Carthage to take 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)
Daniil Hershtynovich hit a career-best .737 in Long Beach’s 3-0 win over CSUN on Wednesday night. Long Beach is undefeated with 15 wins ahead of a meeting with Sacred Heart at the Pyramid on Friday in between the next meeting with CSUN in a week.
Match leaders vs. CSUN:
Next up: Long Beach will face Sacred Heart March 7 and will see CSUN again at home March 14.
When and Watch: vs. Sacred Heart 7 p.m. PT on ESPN+
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/LBSU Players
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. He had six kills, one ace, one block and one dig vs. CSUN.
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. He had one assist and one dig vs. CSUN.
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. He had three kills, five blocks and one dig vs. CSUN.
Nato Dickinson was a member of the Beach Collegiate National Team in 2024 and 2023 and competed at the 2024 Beach World University Championship. 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 three kills, one ace, one block and one dig vs. CSUN.
Long Beach has six more members with NTDP connections.
Dane Hillis was a member of the 2023 U21 National Team that took silver at the Pan Am Cup and played on the 2022 U21 National Team that won gold at the Pan Am Cup. Sebastian Rodriguez was a member of the 2023 Beach U23 National Team and the 2023 Beach Collegiate National Team. Ford Harman was a member of the 2023 Beach U19 National Team. Island Doty was a member of the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team. Chris Connelly was on the U21 National Team in 2023 and 2022 and the U19 National Team in 2021 and 2020. Isaiah Preuitt was on the 2023 U19 National Team that took gold at the NORCECA U19 Pan Am Cup.
UCLA earned a pair of 3-1 victories over UCSB to close out February and improve to 10-3. By the time you read this, you might already know the outcome of the Bruins’ first MPSF meeting with Stanford on Thursday night. It’s the first of two matches in back-to-back nights at the Pauley Pavilion, with UCLA getting the weekend off.
Match leaders vs. UCSB (Feb. 28):
Next up: vs. Stanford at home March 6-7
When and Watch: 7 p.m. PT both nights on B1G+
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, 47 assists, two kills and three digs vs. UCSB (Feb. 28)
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 13 kills, three blocks and six digs vs. UCSB (Feb. 28).
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, one block and six digs vs. UCSB (Feb. 28).
Cameron Thorne was a member of the 2024 Collegiate National Team. He had 11 kills, one ace, three blocks and one dig vs. UCSB (Feb. 28). He is tied for No. 8 in the nation in blocks per set (1.125).
Sean McQuiggan was a member of the 2024 Collegiate National Team. He had two kills, five blocks and one assist vs. UCSB (Feb. 28).
Kahale Clini was a member of the 2023 Boys U19 NORCECA Continental Championship Team. He had one ace and one dig vs. UCSB (Feb. 28).
Sean Kelly was on the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team that won gold at the NORCECA Continental Championship. He was also a member of the U19 Boys teams that won gold at the NORCECA Pan Am Cup in 2023 and 2022. He had four kills, two blocks and one dig vs. UCSB (Feb. 28).
UCLA has two 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. 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.
Kristian Titriyski earned AVCA Player of the Week and Hawaii earned a pair of statement wins vs. UCI to move up to No. 3. The Rainbow Warriors didn’t lose a set across both matches and continued to prove why SimpliFi Arena is perhaps the toughest arena to play in on the 2025 campaign. I’ts Titriyski’s second AVCA POTW award of the season which he earned for averaging six kills and seven points per set across the two matches with UCI. Hawaii’s most recent match came on Wednesday vs. Lindenwood, which resulted in Hawaii’s 16th win of the season. The two will play again on Friday.
Match leaders vs. Lindenwood (March 5):
Next up: Hawaii hosts Lindenwood March 7 followed by the Outrigger Invitational on March 13.
When and Watch: Streaming on Spectrum Sports and 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 one kill, 35 assists, four blocks and three digs vs. Lindenwood (March 5). He is No. 2 in the nation in assists per set (11.0).
Justin Todd was a member of the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team. He had 11 kills, five blocks and two aces vs. Lindenwood (March 5).
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. He had one kill and one assist vs. Lindenwood (March 5).
Kainoa Wade was a member of the 2024 Men’s U21 National Team. He had five kills and two digs vs. Lindenwood (March 5).
It’s four losses in a row for UCI after failing to win a set in the team’s recent road trip to Hawaii. UCI has taken a correlating tumble down the rankings to No. 4. The good news is that the Anteaters have four get-right matches before the “final exam” of No. 1 Long Beach at the end of the month.
Match leaders vs. Hawaii (March 2):
Next up: UCI faces Pepperdine on March 7 and Sacred Heart on March 8.
When and Watch: 7 p.m. PT streaming TBD
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 one ace, four kills, one assist, two blocks and four digs vs. Hawaii (March 2).
The Trojans had no trouble with Vanguard in two matches last week, both 3-0 victories. It’s back to top 10 competition this weekend with two matches vs. BYU, which is one spot outside the top five behind USC. The 11-2 Trojans are in Provo for both matches. They have won each of their last two matches vs. the Cougars in five sets.
Match leaders vs. Vanguard (Feb. 28):
Next up: At BYU March 7 and 8
When and Watch: 7 p.m. MT on BYUtv or 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 two kills, 36 assists, one block and five digs vs. Vanguard (Feb. 28). He is No. 1 in the nation in assists per set (11.16).
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 had11 kills, one assist, two blocks and 10 digs vs. Vanguard (Feb. 28).
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 four kills and three blocks vs. Vanguard (Feb. 28). He is No. 5 in the nation in blocks per set (1.154).
Dillon Klein was a member of the 2024 Men’s Collegiate National Team and the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team. He had 11 kills, one assist, two blocks and seven digs vs. Vanguard (Feb. 28). He is No. 5 in the nation in kills per set (4.16).
Markus Olsson was a member of the 2023 Men’s U21 National Team. He had six kills, three blocks and one dig vs. Vanguard (Feb. 28).
NYU earned 29 votes this week to remain No. 1 with a 17-0 record. They most recently defeated Hobart 3-0 on March 1. Lucas Osiecki was given UVC player of the week honors and tallied five digs, two assists, two aces and five kills vs. Hobart.
Match leaders vs. Hobart:
Next up: NYU will travel to New Paltz March 12.
When and Watch: 7p.m. ET on NYU Athletics
Southern Virginia (16-0) earned one first-place vote from the AVCA this week and has still yet to lose a set after most recently sweeping the Lancaster Bible Tri-Match and defeating Marymount at home on March 5.
Match leaders vs. Marymount:
Next up: vs. St. Andrews March 8
When and Watch: 12 p.m. ET on Knights Broadcasting
Springfield is here to stay, moving up to No. 3 after earning another top-five victory over then No. 3 Stevens (3-1) and a 3-0 win over New Paltz on the road ahead of the Springfield Tri Match this weekend.
Match leaders vs. New Paltz:
Next up: Springfield hosts a tri match this weekend with Endicott and Hunter.
When and Watch: Beginning 12 p.m. ET March 8 on FloCollege
USA Volleyball National Team Development Program/Springfield
Springfield is coached by Charlie Sullivan who has been head coach for the Boys U19 National Team since 2021. In 2024 he coached the Boys U19 team that took gold at the NORCECA Continental Championship. Sullivan received USA Volleyball’s All-Time Great Coach award in 2015.
The Firebirds move up to No. 4 with the slide of Stevens and with tallying a couple more sweeps over North Central (Ill.) and Loras. Carthage also defeated North Park on Wednesday 3-0. Carthage was led through the most recent matches by Ryan Morey, who earned AVCA Player of the Week honors.
Match leaders vs. North Park:
Next up: Carthage will next face Augustana (IL) on March 8.
When and Watch: 7 p.m. CT on YouTube
The Ducks suffered the team’s third loss of the season to new-No. 3 Springfield on March 1. Even in the loss, Stevens still got valuable contribution from Koby Sherman, who finished with a game-high 17 kills, his third-highest total of the season.
Match leaders vs. Springfield:
Next up: Stevens will take part in the Stevenson Tri Match with Randolph Macon this weekend.
Where and when: 2 p.m. ET March 8 vs. Stevenson on Stevenson Athletics
NTDP PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
As we hinted at last week, the upset of No. 2 UCI by No. 3 UCLA from a week ago has put the Bruins as our new No. 2 team for the latest college roundup. The rest of our top five remains the same in DI/II with Long Beach State receiving all 23 votes from the AVCA to remain No. 1. In Division III, Vassar drops out of the top five and Springfield takes a huge leap from No. 7 to No. 4.
As we near the end of February, the men’s college season and our roundup kick into high gear. Multiple top five matchups a week ago left us with some memorable matches and no change to the roundup order in the eyes of the AVCA across both divisions. This even after a an upset of No. 2 UCI by No. 3 UCLA threatens to shake up the roundup order next week.
There is no movement in the DI/II polls this week, but we are treated to a couple top five matchups at the DI/II level. Just outside the top five, Loyola Chicago moves up to No. 6 in the AVCA poll with a 10-0 record, ready to officially join the roundup should anyone falter. In Division III, Stevens moves back up a spot to No. 4 ahead of a meeting with No. 1 NYU. We also welcome Carthage to the top five as Juniata gets bounced down to No. 7.
