BEREA, Ohio – For the first time since 2013, Baldwin Wallace University will welcome a new athletic program to the fold, when men's volleyball makes its program debut this Saturday.
Head Coach Kyle Mars has helped assemble a team of 13 players, 10 of whom are freshman that are ready to make their debut in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League. Senior middle hitter Jacob Holloway (Shelby) is the only upperclassman of the group and will serve a key leadership role for the young Yellow Jackets.
"These guys have been diligent in preparing for their first season, and it's definitely an abnormal one," said Mars. "We have been very intentional in our practice and preparation everyday with what we want to accomplish and for such a young team heading into our first match they've looked great. I think that's a testament to how everyone handled the long break and the return to campus. It wasn't easy. For a lot of these guys, it's the first time competing since the winter of their senior year. We've waited a long time for this weekend and they're excited to take the court."
Anchoring the setter position for the Yellow Jackets will be freshman Brandon Long (Hinckley/Metea Valley [Ill.]). Sophomore Brandon Yu (Wadsworth/Highland) and freshman Joe Meyer (Waterford, N.Y./ Shenendehowa) will split time as defensive specialists.
Outside and opposite hitter will be one of the deepest position groups for the Yellow Jackets this season. Freshmen Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby), Aaric Gossett (Lewis Center/Olentangy), Nick Irelan (Powell/Olentangy Liberty), Kãmau Maka'ike (Hilo, Hawaii/Kamehameha Schools), Nick Mazzone (Springboro/Bishop Fenwick) and Nick Reilman (Medina/Walsh Jesuit) will all get their first taste of collegiate action this season.
Anchoring the middle hitter position will be a young group of talented athletes. Freshmen Chris Moehl (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino), Logan Reese (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) and Don Travis (Reynoldsburg) join Holloway in the middle and will gain valuable experience from Assistant Coach Jason Donorovich, who enters coaching following a successful career in the middle for Pennsylvania State University.
The Yellow Jackets will play their program opener on Saturday, January 30 as they travel to Trine (Ind.) University for two matches and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The following weekend, the Yellow Jackets will host a MCVL opponent for the first time when they welcome Olivet (Mich.) College to town for two matches on February 6.
