As volleyball continues to develop at the highschool degree for boys, extra and higher athletes develop into obtainable to inventory school males’s rosters. That produces extra amount — prior to now three years, three Division I/II conferences have been added — and extra high quality.
Longtime Penn State coach Mark Pavlik, whose Nittany Lions received the EIVA final yr, sees it in his personal convention. When requested who would current the most important problem to the Nittany Lions’ crown this season, Pavlik was nearly at a loss.
“Should you would have requested me this query 15 years in the past, I might have given you one reply,” stated Pavlik, who’s getting into his twenty ninth yr at Penn State. “Now — and I feel it’s true throughout the U.S. — parity is getting higher and higher.
“Definitely within the EIVA, you have got a handful of groups that may come out on any given night time and, in case you’re not taking part in properly, they’ll make you pay for it. So in case you ask me who’s the group you are worried about, truthfully, I’m anxious about all of them.”
John Speraw sees it, too.
Apart from being the coach of reigning nationwide champion UCLA and the USA males’s group, Speraw is chairman of First Level Volleyball. First Level has been a chief mover within the progress of boys and males’s volleyball.
Requested who might emerge as contenders to dethrone the Bruins, Speraw’s reply is as far-reaching as Pavlik’s.
“On the finish of (2023), I assumed Ohio State was taking part in actually good volleyball. They’re proper there. I do know Penn State loses rather a lot, however they do have some gamers return who, I feel, are very excessive degree. You’ve received to suppose Loyola of Chicago goes to be higher.
“I do know that Grand Canyon is returning rather a lot. Lengthy Seaside is returning rather a lot. Stanford is returning rather a lot … And I ought to point out Hawai’i. I do know they graduated a few key gamers, however in addition they have some distinctive expertise exterior … and Hawai’i once more will probably be within the combine.”
The depth issue extends to particular person groups, too, and few know that higher than Speraw. Excluding libero Troy Gooch and center blocker J.R. Norris, who got here off the bench and emerged as a hero in the course of the nationwide championship match final Might, the Bruins return their complete lineup.
That features a horrifying corps of hitters comparable to Ido David, Ethan Champlin, Merrick McHenry, Zach Rama and Man Genis. Additionally again is fifth-year exterior hitter Alex Knight, MVP of the NCAA Championship final season, and setter Andrew Rowan.
Rowan performed with the maturity and poise of a seasoned veteran, however Speraw stated there’s nonetheless extra to be gleaned from the 6-foot-6 sophomore.
“There’s loads of room for him to develop,” Speraw stated. “He’s nonetheless a younger participant. He nonetheless has the flexibility to mature when it comes to how he runs the offense and the way he distributes and the way he thinks concerning the tactical recreation.”
If UCLA is the favourite to repeat, there will probably be, as Speraw famous, no scarcity of challengers. Maybe the most important risk will probably be Lengthy Seaside State.
Lengthy Seaside, which misplaced to UCLA in final spring’s nationwide semifinals, returns a lot of its most important gamers from a yr in the past and was picked to unseat Hawai’i atop the Large West within the convention preseason ballot. Three of these returning gamers have been chosen to the preseason All-Large West group: setter Aidan Knipe, libero Mason Briggs and outdoors hitter Sotiris Siapanis.
Additionally again are 6-10 center blocker Simon Torwie and Large West All-Freshman choice Connor Bloom.
Speraw talked about Hawai’i amongst his crop of contenders, and with good cause. Prior to now three seasons, the Rainbow Warriors have received two nationwide titles (2021, 2022) and misplaced to UCLA in final spring’s NCAA remaining.
However coach Charlie Wade’s group falls into the opposite finish of the depth spectrum. Hawai’i’s depth as a program will probably be examined.
Gone is Jakob Thelle, who not solely was the very best setter within the nation, he was voted the very best general participant within the nation by the AVCA. Greek reverse Dimitrios Mouchlias left faculty early to show professional. Cole Hogland exhausted his eligibility and is taking part in professionally in Japan. And libero Brett Sheward is utilizing his remaining yr of eligibility at rival UC Irvine.
But the cabinet is hardly naked. Again are senior exterior hitter Spyros Chakas, senior exterior hitter Chaz Galloway and center blocker Guilherme Voss, all lengthy on expertise.
In Thelle’s place probably will probably be Kevin Kauling, who transferred from Lewis after a profitable four-year stint there, or freshman Tread Rosenthal, the beginning setter on the USA junior nationwide group. Or maybe some mixture of each. Wade stated he has run a 6-2 offense with them at occasions in follow.
Junior Austin Buchanan additionally may very well be within the combine at setter. However the 6-8 Buchanan is also listed as an reverse, and that’s one of many large holes Wade might want to fill with Mouchlias’ departure.
By way of changing Sheward at libero, Wade believes he has his man in junior Eleu Choy.
“He’s simply such a superb child and a tough employee and a extremely thrilling participant,” Wade stated. “Actually quick. Actually dynamic … There have been occasions final yr (in follow) he not solely was the very best libero, there have been nearly occasions he was the very best participant on the ground.
“He’s had an excellent fall. I feel the (group’s offseason) journey to Japan was actually good for him to type of play in high-leverage moments. That’s the one factor that was type of missing with him.”
The identical might be stated for a number of gamers who will enter Penn State’s lineup this winter. Pavlik has the unenviable activity of changing his “large three” of setter Cole Bogner, reverse Cal Fisher and outdoors hitter Brett Wildman.
We’re again to depth once more. Penn State has had it as a program for just about everything of Pavlik’s tenure, however, in 2024, will probably be examined like few different years.
Setter is the most important gap, the place inexperienced gamers Luke Snyder (senior), Mike Schwob (freshman) and Josh Rosenblum (redshirt sophomore) will battle it out.
The excellent news is, the brand new setter will take pleasure in skilled passers, notably sophomore Ryan Merk, the EIVA freshman of the yr in 2023. Michal Kowal additionally returns as a twin risk, averaging 1.26 digs per set and rating second behind Fisher final season with 2.47 kills per set.
Michael Valenzi (2.33 kills per set in 13 matches in 2023) is a number one candidate to fill Wildman’s function. John Kerr stuffed in admirably in the course of the early a part of final season when Fisher was injured and certain will assume the spot at reverse.
The opposite excellent news for Penn State is it has arguably the very best 1-2 center mixture within the nation with junior Owen Rose and senior Toby Ezeonu.
“Toby has been round now and due to his summer season experiences with USA Volleyball, his volleyball and athletic curve remains to be on the way in which up,” Pavlik stated. “If we will get Toby the ball, hopefully, he can do some issues with it. And Rose may. We’ll see if we will make some individuals fear about these two greater than they should.”
In the meantime, the Division II SIAC enters its third yr of competitors and may proceed to supply higher high quality. The Northeast Convention is in its second season after LIU was the shock winner of the inaugural convention match, upsetting top-seeded St. Francis (Pa.). And the East Coast Convention debuts this season with 5 groups.
Subsequent season, Maryland Jap Shore and Northern Kentucky will add to the Division I roster of groups.
The depth will get deeper.
“With the boys’s recreation, we’ve had that physicality degree,” Pavlik stated, “however I feel over the following 5, six, seven years, we’re going to see an increasing number of groups get higher and higher guys on the court docket. And I don’t imply simply the highest 15 groups.
“I feel there’s going to be sufficient guys taking part in the sport that everyone’s going to have a chance to develop a few of their very own gamers’ physicality.”
However whereas the hole between the perennial powers and their chasers could be inching shut, Wade stated he can see the upcoming season taking part in out in acquainted vogue.
“I don’t suppose there’s actually anyone popping out of the woodwork,” he stated. “Clearly, there will probably be somebody who comes out of it that has a considerably higher yr than we will predict proper now. However when it comes all the way down to it, I feel you’re going to see type of the identical 4 or 5 groups.”
Convention breakdowns
Large West
Faculties (with 2023 convention document): Hawai’i (9-1), Lengthy Seaside State (9-1), UC Irvine (6-4), UCSB (3-7), UC San Diego (2-8), CS Northridge (1-9)
Gamers to look at: L Mason Briggs (Lengthy Seaside), OH/OPP Spyros Chakas (Hawai’i), OH Chaz Galloway (Hawai’i), OH Hillir Henno (UC Irvine), OH Kyle Hobus (CS Northridge), S Aidan Knipe (Lengthy Seaside), S Brett Sheward (UC Irvine), OH Sotiris Siapanis (Lengthy Seaside), MB Simon Torwie (Lengthy Seaside), MB Guilherme Voss (Hawai’i)
Noteworthy: Sheward, who received two nationwide titles with Hawai’i, is taking part in his remaining yr of eligibility at UC Irvine … Hawai’i have to substitute mainstays Jakob Thelle and Dimitrios Mouchlias … Younger UC San Diego squad returns 4 who have been on the all-freshman group.
Quoteworthy: “I feel the play at our reverse place will decide whether or not we’re (a nationwide title contender) or not.” — Charlie Wade, Hawai’i
EIVA
Faculties (with 2023 convention document): Penn State (10-0), Princeton (7-3), Charleston (5-5), George Mason (4-6), Harvard (2-8), NJIT (2-8)
Gamers to look at: OH Ras Jesse Delancy (Charleston), MB Toby Ezeonu (Penn State), OH Ben Harrington (Princeton), OH Omar Hoyos (George Mason), OPP Johnny Kerr (Penn State), OH Michal Kowal (Penn State), L Ryan Merk (Penn State), OH Alessandro Negri (NJIT)
Noteworthy: Charleston will get an enormous increase from the addition of outdoor hitter Delancy, who was the 2023 SIAC Participant of the Yr at Benedict … Penn State will break in a brand new setter. The three setters on the Nittany Lions’ roster have a mixed one match of faculty expertise … Princeton’s Harrington was second within the convention in factors per set to now-graduated Cal Fisher from Penn State.
Quoteworthy: “We could have a beginner (at setter), so will probably be an fascinating first half of the yr the place I’m certain we’ll undergo some rising pains.” — Penn State coach Mark Pavlik, on changing five-year setter Cole Bogner
NEC
Faculties (with 2023 convention document): Saint Francis (Pa.) (12-2), Daemen (11-3), LIU (10-4), St. Francis Brooklyn (5-9), Fairleigh Dickinson (4-10), D’Youville (3-11)
Gamers to look at: S Sean Califf (Daemen), OPP Jamal Ellis Carballo (Fairleigh Dickinson), OH Livan Moreno (LIU), Ryan Parker (SFPA), OH Patrick Rogers (SFB), OPP Zach Schneider (Daemen)
Noteworthy: Merrimack and Sacred Coronary heart left the convention as their athletic packages joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Convention … LIU was the shock winner of the NEC’s first males’s volleyball title, upsetting Saint Francis (Pa.) within the remaining. The Sharks are the preseason decide to repeat … Saint Francis (Pa.) coach Mike Rumbaugh enters his twenty sixth season on the helm of the Pink Flash … Maryland Jap Shore will be part of the convention for 2025.
Quoteworthy: “I’m curious to see who the darkhorses are … who comes out of the NEC.” — Penn State’s Pavlik
MPSF
Groups (with 2023 convention information): UCLA (12-0), BYU (8-4), Stanford (6-6), Grand Canyon (6-6), Pepperdine (5-7), USC (3-9), Concordia (2-10)
Gamers to look at: MB Akin Akinwumi (Pepperdine), OH Ethan Champlin (UCLA), OPP Ido David (UCLA), OH Dillon Klein (USC), OH Alex Knight (UCLA), OH Kevin Lamp (Stanford), OH Merrick McHenry (UCLA), OH Trent Moser (BYU), OH Miks Ramanis (BYU), S Andrew Rowan (UCLA), S Nick Slight (GCU), MB Rico Wardlow (GCU)
Noteworthy: Concordia is beneath interim coach Chris Seiffert, who was employed in November … Pepperdine should substitute convention participant of the yr Jaylen Jasper. … UCLA has the majority of its roster again from final season’s nationwide title group … Grand Canyon earned an at-large bid to the NC Event final season, the ’Lopes’ first journey to the match.
Quoteworthy: “We return rather a lot, however we additionally graduated a few gamers who had a big influence on our season final yr, particularly with the way in which J.R. (Norris) got here off the bench and performed in that championship match. We’re going to have to search out these factors.” — UCLA coach John Speraw
MIVA
Faculties (with 2023 convention document): Ball State (11-3), Loyola Chicago (11-3), Ohio State (11-3), Lewis (7-7), Purdue Fort Wayne (7-7), Lindenwood (7-7), McKendree (1-13), Quincy (1-13).
Gamers to look at: OPP Raje Alleyne (Quincy), OH John Diedrich (PFW), OH A.J. Lewis (Lindenwood), MB Nicodemus Meyer (Loyola), OH Tinaishe Ndavazocheva (Ball State), OH Jacob Pasteur (Ohio State), L Tommy Poole (Ohio State), OH Max Roquet (Lewis), OH Parker Van Buren (Loyola), MB Bryce Walker (PFW), OPP Shane Wetzel (Ohio State), S Michael Wright (Ohio State)
Noteworthy: Queens (Charlotte, N.C.) joins the MIVA, bringing the convention as much as six Division I packages … Ohio State’s MIVA title final season was its 18th … Loyola Chicago’s John Hawks was the convention coach of the yr in his first yr with this system … Ohio State was picked to repeat as MIVA champ within the convention’s preseason ballot … Ball State misplaced to Ohio State in 5 within the convention title match, denying the Cardinals back-to-back titles.
Quoteworthy: “There are a whole lot of groups which might be returning rather a lot. Ohio State is returning rather a lot … Loyola is returning rather a lot … Quite a lot of groups appear to be returning their most important group of gamers.” — UCLA’s Speraw
SIAC
Faculties (with 2023 convention document): Edward Waters (10-0), Central State (8-2), Benedict (6-5), Fort Valley State (4-6), Kentucky State (2-8), Morehouse (0-1)
Gamers to look at: L Diego Cardona (Fort Valley State), S Kenyon Haynes (Edward Waters), OH Jaxon Hicks (Fort Valley State), OH Kaelen Ingram (Edward Waters), MH Joelvi Jimenez (Edward Waters), MH Taviian Martin (Fort Valley State), OH Bryan Pepen (Edward Waters), L Victor Scherer (Central State), MH Rashaun Wright (Fort Valley State), S Justin Yates (Fort Valley State)
Noteworthy: The Division II convention made up of traditionally Black faculties will get an automated NCAA bid this yr … In two seasons, the convention has had two totally different champions: Central State (2022) and Edward Waters (2023) … Of the six groups within the convention, 4 are coached by girls. Edward Waters’ Lauren Ford was coach of the yr.
Quoteworthy: “There was a powerful push by nationwide leaders to develop the game of males’s volleyball, particularly amongst HBCUs. As commissioner, I can let you know there’s a constructive power within the league and on our campuses about competing in males’s volleyball on the highest degree.” — SIAC commissioner Anthony Holloman (by way of thesiac.com)
Convention Carolinas
Faculties (with 2023 convention document): North Greenville (11-3), Erskine (9-5), King (8-6), Belmont Abbey (8-6), Lees-McRae (7-7), Mount Olive (6-8), Barton (4-10), Emmanuel (3-11)
Gamers to look at: MB Emanuel Adames (North Greenville), OH Edgerrin Austin (Erskine), OPP Nicholas Brewster (Lees-McRae), OH Warren Davis (King), MB Michael de la Cruz (North Greenville), L Nick Eichenberger (Emmanuel), MB Thomas Fanic (Barton), MB Kellan Kennedy (King), S Jackson Lahey (Mount Olive), S Francisco Pomar (Erskine), MB Ethan Rehmann (Belmont Abbey), OH Diego Rosich (North Greenville), OH Kacper Rybarczyk (Erskine)
Noteworthy: Because the third seed, King received the convention match and the NCAA bid that cane with it … King now could be beneath the course of Marquis Clark, who was employed lower than three weeks in the past … North Greenville will host Pepperdine on March 9. The Waves return for the primary time since 2015, after they helped the Crusaders inaugurate their program … The previous 4 seasons, excluding the canceled 2020 season (COVID) have produced 4 totally different convention match champs: King (2023), North Greenville (2022), Belmont Abbey (2021) and Barton (2019).
Quoteworthy: “This was the precise alternative on the proper time in the precise place for me and my household. I’m humbled by the belief positioned in me by this group and the administration and I can’t wait to get to work.” — Marquis Clark (by way of kingtornado.com)
East Coast
Faculties: Alliance, American Worldwide, Dominican, Roberts Wesleyan, St. Thomas Aquinas
Noteworthy: That is the primary season for the East Coast Convention in males’s volleyball … Roberts Wesleyan and St. Thomas Aquinas are full-time members of the convention, with Alliance, American Worldwide and Dominican as affiliate members for males’s volleyball … The 5 faculties will play a double round-robin schedule and conduct a championship match on the finish of the common season … American Worldwide is battle-tested, having performed towards quite a few Division I packages (largely NEC) in its two earlier years of existence … Dominican is probably the most established program of the group, having existed since 2014 … In accordance with the ECC web site, “The ECC plans to hunt further membership with hopes of reaching the minimal of six members wanted to pursue an automated qualifier to the NCAA Championship.”
Quoteworthy: “Males’s volleyball is likely one of the quickest rising sports activities in the USA, and we’re comfortable to assist manage this as a convention sport for a few of our regional colleagues. We stay up for persevering with to develop males’s volleyball within the coming years.” — ECC commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff (by way of eccsports.org)