Men's Volleyball Picked To Finish Second In MCVL Preseason Poll
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—The Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) released the 2023 Preseason Poll and the Griffins are picked to finish second.
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—The Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) released the 2023 Preseason Poll and the Griffins are picked to finish second.
Reigning MCVL Champion, the Mount Union Purple Raiders, hold the op spot with 63 points and seven first-place votes. Fontbonne follows in second with 58 points and two first-place votes, while Trine comes in at No. 3 with 49 points.
The Griffins come off a 2022 season where they won its second straight MCVL Regular Season Title, while going 20-7 overall and a perfect 8-0 in conference play for the first time in program history.
This year, the Griffins look to replace the likes of departed seniors Braden Woolsey, Kyler van Rossum-O'Connell, and Kolin Scharnhorst. Woolsey finished his career with 687 kills, a .397 hitting percentage, 184 digs, and 325 blocks. He ranks eighth all-time in NCAA Division III in blocks and 17th in hitting percentage. He's also the all-time leader at Fontbonne in blocks and hitting percentage.
Ryan Lively is back for his senior season after racking up 293 kills a season ago, to go along with a .298 hitting percentage, 134 digs and 30 blocks. He was named to the MCVL First Team for the second straight season and to the AVCA All-West Region Team.
Nate Paasch returns for one more run after posting 206 kills and 164 digs, while Joseph Huster compiled a career-high 161 kills and 56 blocks giving him MCVL Second Team honors.
Cameron Graves also returns looking to build off his 144 kill and 114 dig performance from 2022. The Griffins will have a new setter running the offense after departed senior Kyler van Rossum-O'Connell finished his career with a program best 4,587 career assists which ranks him fifth all-time in NCAA Division III history.
Fontbonne will have returners Tengis Kelley, Alex Gantt, and newcomer Demitrius Allen battling for the starting spot.
Defensively, the Griffins bring back MCVL Rookie of the Year Ryan Taylor to lead them after posting 166 digs.
The Griffins welcome in five newcomers in Nathan Rozanski, Nathan Rothweiler, Ethan Jenkins, Allen, and Josh Blomberg who look to make an immediate impact in 2023.
Fontbonne begins its season on Jan. 20th in Santa Cruz, Calif., when they'll take on North Park and Illinois Wesleyan. Its home opener will be on Feb. 7th against Illinois Wesleyan.
To view the entire 2023 slate visit HERE.
About Fontbonne University
Fontbonne University is a private, Catholic liberal arts university located in St. Louis, committed to a transformative education and inspiring students to become global citizens who think critically, act ethically and serve responsibly. The university, founded in 1923, is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. For more information, visit www.fontbonne.edu
Make sure to follow the men's volleyball team on all its social media accounts: Twitter(@FBUGriffinsMVB), Instagram (@fontbonnemvb) and Facebook (/FontbonneUGriffins).