Full All-Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League Release (.pdf)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball team had three student-athletes named to the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League All-Conference teams. Junior Academic All-MCVL outside hitter Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby) and junior Academic All-MCVL setter Brandon Long (Hinckley/Metea Valley, Ill.) were named to the first-team while sophomore outside/right side hitter Michael Devlin (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) earned second-team honors. 

Beard, who earns his third consecutive conference award, was named to the second-team the past two seasons. This season, he leads the MCVL and the BW program in total kills (370), in service aces (53), and is second in kills per set (3.78), and second in service aces per set (0.54) landing him on the first-team. Beard has also posted 167 digs, 33 total blocks, and 30 assists. 

Beard notched his career-high this season against Concordia University Chicago, totaling 29 kills in the win. He also tallied five service aces in the wins over Randolph-Macon (Va.) College and Hiram College. Beard has also been served to the second-most of anyone in the MCVL (528), and has recorded just 13 reception errors (99.98 reception percentage, highest in the MCVL).

In his career, Beard leads the three-year program with 823 kills, 414 digs, 90 aces, 76 total blocks, and 57 assists. He was previously awarded MCVL Offensive Player of the Week on April 11, 2023, March 21, 2023, and February 25, 2021, and was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Week on February 7, 2023. Beard also earned MCVL Defensive Player of the Week honors last season on February 1, 2022.

Long, who earns his first conference accolade, leads the MCVL in total assists (930) and in assists per set (10.22). Long is also second in all of Division III in assists per set and fourth in total assists. In conference play this year, Long averages 11.19 assists per set, the most of any player. This season he, along with the 930 assists, has tallied 143 digs, 28 blocks, and 18 aces. 

In his career, Long ranks fifth in Division III in career assists per set (9.42) and ninth in total assists (2,203). He reached the 2,000 assist milestone in the win over Adrian (Mich.) College on March 21, 2023. Long has also totaled 352 digs, 75 aces, 72 blocks, and 71 kills. 

Devlin, who also earns his first league honor, is second on the team and sixth in the MCVL in total kills (291). He also is second on the team and fourth in the MCVL in kills per set (3.31). Devlin has also totaled a career-high nine digs in three matches this season along with notching a career-high of three aces in two matches. He was previously named MCVL Offensive Player of the Week on January 31, 2023 for the first time in his career after totaling 60 kills in the Misericordia Cougar Classic four-match series. 

In his career, Devlin has totaled 471 kills, 215 digs, 67 total blocks, 33 aces, and 15 assists. 

These three student-athletes have helped BW to an overall record of 24-7 and a record of 7-1 in the MCVL, claiming a share of the program's first-ever MCVL Regular Season Title.

BW is back in action on Friday, April 14 as the team competes in the MCVL Tournament Semifinal matchup. The second-seeded Yellow Jackets will take on the third-seeded, and fellow co-regular season champion, Wittenberg University at 4:00 p.m. inside of the Timken Gymnasium.