Hawaii was stung on its residence court docket as CSUN pulled off an enormous Huge West upset, BYU doubled down at Pepperdine and the MIVA produced fireworks on a busy Saturday of NCAA Division I-II males’s volleyball.
Jon Diedrich of Purdue Fort Wayne exploded for 38 kills, the excessive for the season in males’s faculty ball, however his heavy lifting couldn’t get his Mastodons over the hump in a five-set defeat to MIVA pacesetter Ball State.
The MIVA additionally noticed a ranked upset as McKendree, 18th within the AVCA coaches ballot, swept Loyola Chicago, which had risen to eleventh within the weekly rankings.
However arguably the most important growth of the day got here off the court docket within the girls’s Professional Volleyball Federation.
The Columbus Fury signed famous person exterior hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, the primary member of the USA Olympic gold-medal-winning staff from the 2021 Tokyo Video games landed by the startup league.
No matches are scheduled on Sunday in NCAA males’s volleyball. On Monday, Lincoln Memorial (16-5) entertains fellow impartial Missouri S&T (10-10).
PVF: Fury add Bartsch-Hackley, Perovic
Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, 34, had stepped away from aggressive volleyball after ending the 2022 season with the VakıfBank Istanbul membership within the Turkish League, and labored as an assistant coach underneath Jen Flynn Oldenburg at Ohio State in the course of the 2023 marketing campaign. She additionally had served in a training and advisory capability with the Fury.
Though League One Volleyball, which is able to launch its common season in January of 2025, has ballyhooed the signings of various members of the 2021 USA Olympic staff, Bartsch-Hackley represents a major breakthrough addition for the Professional Volleyball Federation.
The gaudy and prolonged resume for the previous Illinois nice consists of being named co-Greatest Exterior Hitter (with teammate Jordan Larson) within the Tokyo Olympics, in addition to the MVP and Greatest Hitter of the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
Even after a break of roughly two years, the 6-foot-3 Bartsch-Hackley shortly figures to make an impression because the Fury (4-5), who’ve misplaced three in a row, proceed to reshape their roster. Coach Angel Perez mentioned, “We count on nice issues,” from a participant who ranked among the many most feared hitters on the earth not that way back.
“Everyone is aware of what Michelle brings to the desk,” Perez mentioned in a staff launch. “She is an Olympic gold medalist, has performed in one of the best leagues on the earth with one of the best golf equipment on the earth.
“She was a champion within the Champions League in Europe, and a member of the USA nationwide staff (since 2015). She is a confirmed winner, understands the sport of volleyball like few individuals do, and can carry a number of expertise to a younger group.”
Perez just lately despatched the Fury’s first-round picks within the 2025 and 2026 faculty drafts to the Atlanta Vibe for setter Tori Stringer. On Saturday, the staff additionally signed veteran worldwide star Natalia Perovic, a 6-foot-4 reverse from Montenegro with deep expertise in top-level leagues.
To make room for the additions, the Fury positioned exterior hitter Maria Schlegel, 30, and reverse Ashley Wenz on waivers. Neither had been significantly productive in reserve roles.
The Fury’s remaining pin hitters embrace true rookie Reagan Cooper, a second-round draft decide (14th general) who has loved a breakout season, averaging 16.11 kills per match whereas attacking at .226 effectivity.
Veteran Megan Courtney-Lush, 30, who got here out of retirement to hitch the PVF, has been hit-or-miss in seven matches, with a excessive of 14 kills and a .134 hitting proportion. Courtney-Lush’s passing has been spot-on, nonetheless, with 41% of her 140 receptions rated as good. Megan has performed as a libero on the worldwide degree, so a change to that place won’t be forthcoming.
True rookie Jenaisya Moore, a fourth-round selection (twenty eighth general), has extra attacking errors (14) than kills (11) over 14 units in seven matches. Samantha Drechsel has been the Fury’s most important starter at reverse, however has hit simply .112 on 179 swings. Perovic, 29, appears destined to assert that job, significantly in mild of the productiveness of veteran worldwide opposites Emiliya Dimitrova (Grand Fast Rise) and Anna Lazareva (Vibe). Each have been named PVF gamers of the week.
Perez can go 4 deep at center hitter when true rookie Asjia O’Neal (the primary participant picked within the PVF draft), Rainelle Jones, Kaitlyn Hord and Jenna Rosenthal are wholesome. The hitch has been that O’Neal has performed in solely 4 matches due to an ankle harm. Rosenthal spent a month on the short-term injured reserve listing and has appeared in solely 5 units over two matches. O’Neal has demonstrated flashes of brilliance when she has been on the court docket and has attacked at a .380 clip on 71 swings.
Perez mentioned that he expects Bartsch-Hackley’s institutional information “will assist with the event of Reagan, Jenaisya, Sam and all of our younger middles.”
The Fury would possibly debut its new look on Sunday in a matinee (2 p.m. Japanese begin) at Nationwide Area in Columbus towards the first-place Vibe (9-3), who’re on a five-match roll. Over the weekend, the Vibe activated star OH Alli Linnehan from the injured listing and positioned true rookie OH Kaycie Evans on waivers, with the intent of returning her to the follow squad if she isn’t claimed by one other staff.
Additionally within the PVF on Sunday at 7 p.m. Japanese, the Vegas Thrill (5-7) entertain the last-place San Diego Mojo (2-6).
Saturday’s NCAA males
BIG WEST: No. 2 Hawaii (18-4, 1-3) tasted defeat for less than the fourth time in 57 residence matches over the past 4 seasons, with a shocked crowd of 6,839 at Stan Sheriff Heart witnessing the 25-23, 25-16, 22-25, 25-11 victory by No. 18 CSUN (10-11, 1-3).
The Matadors had dropped a four-setter there the evening earlier than, however this time they held the Rainbow Warriors, who’ve attacked at a nation’s-best .368 proportion, to .240 hitting. After getting burned by the middles within the first match, CSUN restricted Guillerme Voss and Kurt Nusterer to a mixed six kills towards two errors in 11 swings. Senior OH Chaz Galloway hit .083 (4 kills with three errors on 12 assaults. Hawaii would possibly nonetheless be looking for the 4.17 kills per set misplaced when All-American Spyros Chakas went down with a season-ending knee harm.
Conversely, the Matadors cracked at a sturdy .387 clip in a balanced assault. Jalen Phillips (17 kills), Griffin Walters (15 kills) and Kyle Hobus (11 kills, six blocks) all hit at the least .346. Jano Tello pounded seven kills on 10 errorless swings.
“It was a giant win tonight and we had some unimaginable performances,” Matadors coach Theo Edwards mentioned. “Kyle was completely terrific and (setter) Donovan (Constable) performed in all probability one of the best match of his quick profession. Jalen was on fireplace, Jano was completely electrical, and Griffin performed nice.”
MPSF: Seventh-ranked BYU (13-7, 4-4) wanted all of Luke Benson’s 26 kills and 5 blocks to stave off No. 8 Pepperdine (16-7, 4-5) 23-25, 25-17, 21-25, 25-19, 15-7. Earlier than a crowd of 1,263 in Malibu, the visiting Cougars took the second finish of a weekend collection sweep, each victories coming in tense five-setters.
BYU notched the final 5 factors of the tiebreaker. Benson, a 6-foot-7 junior, acquired his career-high kills whole on 41 swings with 5 errors, hitting .512. Center blocker Gavin Julien contributed seven kills and 11 blocks (two solo).
Cole Ketrzynski led the Waves with 19 kills, an ace, 9 digs and 4 blocks.
MIVA: No. 12 Ball State (17-8, 10-2) pushed its lead on the prime of the league standings to 2 matches over idle Tenth-ranked Ohio State. However the Cardinals have been pressed to the restrict by host Purdue Fort Wayne (11-10, 5-7) and one-man gang Jon Diedrich throughout a titanic 18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 27-29, 15-11 tussle.
Fifth-year senior OH Diedrich racked up 38 kills, probably the most in an NCAA match this season and tops by a PFW participant since 2011. Diedrich compiled his whole on 73 makes an attempt towards 4 errors, a mind-boggling .466 proportion. He added two aces, six digs and three blocks. Bryce Walker had 4 of the Mastodons’ 9 aces.
Nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient. Kills by Tinaishe Ndavazocheva, who loved a giant evening with 25, scored the 14th and fifteenth factors of the tiebreaker for Ball State. Ndavazocheva’s 25 got here on 55 assaults with 5 errors. Ryan Bartz contributed 14 kills, taking part in in 4 units.
In the meantime, a seven-match successful streak by No. 11 Loyola Chicago (15-9, 9-4) screeched to an abrupt halt when No. 18 McKendree (14-8, 8-5) took down the Ramblers 26-24, 25-18, 25-21. The host Bearcats dialed up 9 aces, three by Tyler Tripp (12 kills, 9 digs, three blocks), and shut down Loyola’s go-to hitter, 6-foot-9 Parker Van Buren, who logged 4 kills towards three errors.
Additionally, Daniel Haber and Max Roquet every collected 10 kills as No. 14 Lewis (14-11, 7-5) swept at Queens (5-10, 2-10). … Visiting Lindenwood (10-11, 6-7) floor out a five-set overcome spunky Quincy (5-15, 1-12), 15-13 within the fifth, The Lions attacked at .419 effectivity and acquired 19 kills from Ian Schuller, offsetting 23 kills by the Hawks’ Raje Alleyne.
EIVA: No. 15 Princeton (10-9, 3-3) took care of enterprise on the street towards last-place New Jersey Institute of Know-how (8-12, 0-5) 25-22, 25-20, 24-26, 25-15 within the lone convention match. Ben Harrington led the way in which with 16 kills, six aces and 5 blocks. … No. 17 George Mason (13-7) swept visiting impartial Tusculum (6-18) for the second time in two days. Omar Hoyas loomed massive once more with 15 kills, an ace, eight digs and three blocks. … Harvard (11-6) gained in 4 over ECC customer Dominican (10-10) as Zach Berty went off for 20 kills on 27 errorless assaults, 5 aces and 7 digs. … Host Charleston (10-10) wanted 5 to place away NAIA member Georgetown (17-5) of Kentucky, 15-11 within the tiebreaker.
CONFERENCE CAROLINAS: A street sweep by Belmont Abbey (14-4, 9-1) and a five-set home-court stumble by Mount Olive (13-8, 6-4) allowed the Crusaders to realize separation from the Trojans. Belmont Abbey’s 25-14, 25-23, 25-21 victory at Barton (10-9, 5-5) was helped by 13 kills every from Zach Puentes and Matthew Staskunas and the hosts’ .046 hitting. … Mount Olive fell in 5 (15-9 within the tiebreaker) to North Greenville (9-8, 7-3), which moved into second place within the league. Kory Grant cracked 13 kills and center blocker Maksim Kazanov posted six kills on 9 errorless swings and 9 blocks (one solo) for the visiting Crusaders. … Erskine (11-8, 7-3) swept upstreaming host Lees-McRae (1-22, 0-10) and likewise is in second within the standings, two video games behind Belmont Abbey. … King (5-16, 3-7) gained in three tight units over visiting Emmanuel (8-15, 3-7).
NEC: Host Saint Francis (14-8, 6-0) dealt with Daemen (13-5, 6-2) for the second day in a row, once more prevailing in 4 units. The Pink Flash loved benefits of 11-6 in blocks and 7-4 in aces. … Host Lengthy Island U. (11-11, 5-3) swept Sacred Coronary heart (7-15, 2-6) as Livan Moreno logged eight kills, .636 hitting and two aces. … Fairleigh Dickinson (8-11, 2-4) gained in three over Merrimack (7-11, 2-4), limiting the guests to minus-.012 hitting.
ACROSS THE NATION: In an ECC match, Saint Thomas Aquinas (7-12, 3-1) topped host Roberts Wesleyan (6-13, 1-3) in 4 units with Gabriel Viera choosing up 21 kills. … Behind Luke Duncan’s 19 kills, 12 digs and 4 blocks, visiting Thomas Moore (12-11) shocked fellow impartial Maryville (19-5) in a five-setter (15-8 within the tiebreaker). …
Within the SIAC, Fort Valley State (10-7, 5-0) crunched Edward Waters (6-12, 3-1), outpointing the visiting Tigers 75-35.