BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball team prepares for their second season as a program, embarking on the 2022 campaign.
Second-yearHead Coach Kyle Mars leads a young squad into this year's season welcoming in 10 newcomers, but returns seven athletes, five of whom were starters in the 2021 season.
"There's a lot of excitement in our gym for the upcoming season," Mars commented. "In a way this our first true full season as a program after the shortened conference-only schedule last year. Our guys have left everything they have on the court and in the weight room this preseason. The growth and development of all of the athletes has been fun to see, and we can't wait to get out and be tested with a very tough schedule in 2022."
One returner for the Yellow Jackets is sophomore All-Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League outside hitter Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby). Beard appeared in 57 sets for the Yellow Jackets, leading the team in kills with 187. He averaged 3.28 kills per set which was fourth in the MCVL. Beard was also third on the team in digs as he posted a 99 total. He also added 14 total blocks and 13 service aces.
Also entering his sophomore season is outside hitter Nick Irelan (Powell/Olentangy). Irelan had the second-leading kill total on the team, finishing last season with 143 (2.47 kills per set). Irelan also dished out 39 assists, added 16 service aces, and had 18 total blocks. He also was second on the team in digs with 107.
The Yellow Jackets' other three returning starters are sophomore setter Brandon Long (Hinckley/Metea Valley, Ill.), sophomore middle hitter Chris Moehl (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino), and sophomore middle hitter Don Travis (Reynoldsburg). Long was last year's starting setter, averaging 9.02 assists per set with a 496-assist total. He also led the team in service aces, posting 25 (second in the MCVL). Moehl tallied 38 kills and led the team in total blocks with 28. Travis earned 59 total kills and posted 27 blocks.
Other returners include sophomore outside hitter Nick Reilman (Medina/Walsh Jesuit) and sophomore right side hitter Nick Mazzone (Springboro/Bishop Fenwick). BW lands sophomore defensive specialist Payton Reed (Hilliard/Darby), transferring from Penn State University at Altoona.
Key freshmen for the Yellow Jackets include right side hitter Michael Devlin (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley), defensive specialist Andrew Soriano (Aurora, Ill./Benet Academy), and setter Carson Junker (Massillon/Jackson). Other incoming freshmen are outside hitter/setter Carson Owens (Mars, Pa./Mars Area), setter Evan Herbst (Hamburg, N.Y.), middle hitter Reed Fisher (Freedom, Pa./Ambridge Area), middle hitter Devin Reiher (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes), outside hitter/setter Marquis Kelly (Surprise, Ariz./Willow Canyon), and outside hitter Tom Zagrobelny (East Aurora, N.Y.).
BW begins the season this coming Tuesday, January 18 as the Yellow Jackets host St. Norbert (Wis.) College in a non-conference contest. The first home match is set to begin at 8:00 p.m. in Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center.
