If there is a buzzword for men’s volleyball in 2024, it might be “depth.”

As volleyball continues to grow at the high school level for boys, more and better athletes become available to stock college men’s rosters. That produces more quantity — in the past three years, three Division I/II conferences have been added — and more quality.

Longtime Penn State coach Mark Pavlik, whose Nittany Lions won the EIVA last year, sees it in his own conference. When asked who would present the biggest challenge to the Nittany Lions’ crown this season, Pavlik was almost at a loss.

“If you would have asked me this question 15 years ago, I could have given you one answer,” said Pavlik, who is entering his 29th year at Penn State. “Now — and I think it’s true across the U.S. — parity is getting better and better.

“Certainly in the EIVA, you have a handful of teams that can come out on any given night and, if you’re not playing well, they’ll make you pay for it. So if you ask me who’s the team you worry about, honestly, I’m worried about all of them.”

John Speraw sees it, too.

Besides being the coach of reigning national champion UCLA and the USA men’s team, Speraw is chairman of First Point Volleyball. First Point has been a prime mover in the growth of boys and men’s volleyball.

At the end of (2023), I thought Ohio State was playing really good volleyball. They’re right there. I know Penn State loses a lot, but they do have some players return who, I think, are very high level. You’ve got to think Loyola of Chicago is going to be better.

“I am aware that Grand Canyon is frequently returning. Long Beach has a high rate of return. Stanford is making frequent returns. I should also bring up Hawaii. They may have lost a few important players to graduation, but they also have some very talented players outside of and Hawaii will once more be included.

Few people are as aware of the depth aspect in individual teams as Speraw is. The Bruins will start with the same lineup as last May, with the exception of middle blocker J.R. Norris and libero Troy Gooch, who came off the bench to play heroics during the national title game.

This contains a terrifying group of hitters like Guy Genis, Zach Rama, Merrick McHenry, Ido David, and Ethan Champlin. The fifth-year outside is also back.

hitter Alex Knight, who won the MVP award in the last NCAA Championship, and setter Andrew Rowan.

Although Rowan played with the composure and maturity of an experienced pro, Speraw stated that the 6-foot-6 sophomore still had more to offer.

Speraw stated, “There’s plenty of room for him to grow.” He’s still a developing athlete. He still has room to grow in terms of his offensive scheme, distribution skills, and tactical game philosophy.

As mentioned by Speraw, there will be no shortage of opponents if UCLA is the favorite to win again. Long Beach State could be the biggest threat.

Numerous key players from Long Beach, which lost to UCLA in the national semifinals last spring, are back.

Outside hitter Sotiris Siapanis, libero Mason Briggs, and setter Aidan Knipe were the three returning players chosen for the preseason All-Big West squad.

Connor Bloom, a selection for the Big West All-Freshman team, and 6-10 middle blocker Simon Torwie are also back.

With good cause, Speraw included Hawaii in his list of potential candidates. The Rainbow Warriors have finished third in the last three seasons after losing to UCLA in the NCAA final last spring and winning two national titles (2021, 2022).

However, the club led by Coach Charlie Wade is at the opposite end of the depth chart. The depth of the Hawaii program will be evaluated.

Jakob Thelle is no longer with us. The AVCA voted him the top player in the country overall, and he was also the best setter.

Against Dimitrios Mouchlias, who became pro early, quit school. After using up all of his eligibility, Cole Hogland is currently a professional player in Japan. And libero Brett Sheward is attending rival UC Irvine to make the most of his last year of eligibility.

Still, the cabinet is barely empty. Returning with a wealth of experience are middle blocker Guilherme Voss, senior outside hitter Chaz Galloway, and senior outside hitter Spyros Chakas.

Thelle’s replacement will probably be either freshman Tread Rosenthal, the starting setter for the USA junior national team, or Kevin Kauling, who transferred from Lewis after a productive four years there. or even a mix of the two. Wade added that during practice, he has occasionally used a 6-2 offense with them.

Austin Buchanan, a junior, might possibly be included as setter. However, the 6-8 Buchanan is also listed as an opposite, which is one of the major gaps Wade will have to cover after Mouchlias leaves.

Wade feels he has junior Eleu Choy, who can replace Sheward at libero, all set.

Wade described him as “just such a good kid, a hard worker, and a really exciting player.” Very quickly. Extremely lively He wasn’t just the best libero in practice last year; there were almost moments when he was the best player on the court.

“He’s come a long way. The off-season trip to Japan, in my opinion, was a great opportunity for him to type of play in high-leverage situations. That’s the one thing about him that felt a little off.

For a few guys who will join Penn State’s lineup this winter, the same can be said. The difficult challenge of replacing his “big three”—outside hitter Brett Wildman, opposite Cal Fisher, and setter Cole Bogner—falls to Pavlik.

We have returned to the depths. For the majority of Pavlik’s presidency, Penn State has offered it as a program; nevertheless, in 2024, it will be put to the test like few other years.

The greatest gap is at setter, where inexperienced players Josh Rosenblum (redshirt), Mike Schwob (freshman), and Luke Snyder (senior) play.

The good news is that the new setter will benefit from seasoned passers, including Ryan Merk, a sophomore who won the 2023 EIVA Freshman of the Year award. Returning as a dual threat, Michal Kowal averaged 1.26 digs per set last season, second only to Fisher with 2.47 kills per set.

Michael Valenzi is a strong contender to take over for Wildman after he averaged 2.33 kills per set in 13 matches in 2023. When Fisher was injured in the first few games of the previous season, John Kerr played a great replacement and is expected to take over at opposite.

“Toby’s volleyball and athletic curve is still on the rise because of his summer experiences with USA Volleyball,” stated Pavlik. “Hopefully, Toby will be able to do something with the ball if we can get it to him. Rose is also capable of it. We’ll try to concern some individuals more than necessary about those two.

As for the Division II SIAC, it should keep producing stronger work as it begins its third year of competition. After LIU beat top-seeded St. Francis (Pa.) to win the inaugural conference championship, the Northeast Conference entered its second season. With five teams this season, the East Coast Conference also makes its de

 

“With the men’s game, we’ve had that physicality level,” Pavlik said, “but I think over the next five, six, seven years, we’re going to see more and more teams get better and better guys on the court. And I don’t mean just the top 15 teams.

“I think there’s going to be enough guys playing the game that everybody’s going to have an opportunity to develop some of their own players’ physicality.”

But while the gap between the perennial powers and their chasers might be inching shut, Wade said he can see the upcoming season playing out in familiar fashion.

“I don’t think there’s really anybody coming out of the woodwork,” he said. “Obviously, there will be someone who comes out of it that has a significantly better year than we can predict right now. But when it comes down to it, I think you’re going to see kind of the same four or five teams.”

Conference breakdowns
Big West
Schools (with 2023 conference record): Hawai’i (9-1), Long Beach State (9-1), UC Irvine (6-4), UCSB (3-7), UC San Diego (2-8), CS Northridge (1-9)

Players to watch: L Mason Briggs (Long Beach), OH/OPP Spyros Chakas (Hawai’i), OH Chaz Galloway (Hawai’i), OH Hillir Henno (UC Irvine), OH Kyle Hobus (CS Northridge), S Aidan Knipe (Long Beach), S Brett Sheward (UC Irvine), OH Sotiris Siapanis (Long Beach), MB Simon Torwie (Long Beach), MB Guilherme Voss (Hawai’i)

Noteworthy: Sheward, who won two national titles with Hawai’i, is playing his final year of eligibility at UC Irvine … Hawai’i must replace mainstays Jakob Thelle and Dimitrios Mouchlias … Young UC San Diego squad returns four who were on the all-freshman team.

Quoteworthy: “I think the play at our opposite position will determine whether we are (a national title contender) or not.” — Charlie Wade, Hawai’i

EIVA
Schools (with 2023 conference record): Penn State (10-0), Princeton (7-3), Charleston (5-5), George Mason (4-6), Harvard (2-8), NJIT (2-8)

Players to watch: OH Ras Jesse Delancy (Charleston), MB Toby Ezeonu (Penn State), OH Ben Harrington (Princeton), OH Omar Hoyos (George Mason), OPP Johnny Kerr (Penn State), OH Michal Kowal (Penn State), L Ryan Merk (Penn State), OH Alessandro Negri (NJIT)

Noteworthy: Charleston gets a big boost from the addition of outside hitter Delancy, who was the 2023 SIAC Player of the Year at Benedict … Penn State will break in a new setter. The three setters on the Nittany Lions’ roster have a combined one match of college experience … Princeton’s Harrington was second in the conference in points per set to now-graduated Cal Fisher from Penn State.

Quoteworthy: “We will have a newbie (at setter), so it will be an interesting first half of the year where I’m sure we will go through some growing pains.” — Penn State coach Mark Pavlik, on replacing five-year setter Cole Bogner

NEC
Schools (with 2023 conference record): Saint Francis (Pa.) (12-2), Daemen (11-3), LIU (10-4), St. Francis Brooklyn (5-9), Fairleigh Dickinson (4-10), D’Youville (3-11)

Players to watch: S Sean Califf (Daemen), OPP Jamal Ellis Carballo (Fairleigh Dickinson), OH Livan Moreno (LIU), Ryan Parker (SFPA), OH Patrick Rogers (SFB), OPP Zach Schneider (Daemen)

Noteworthy: Merrimack and Sacred Heart left the conference as their athletic programs joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference … LIU was the surprise winner of the NEC’s first men’s volleyball title, upsetting Saint Francis (Pa.) in the final. The Sharks are the preseason pick to repeat … Saint Francis (Pa.) coach Mike Rumbaugh enters his 26th season at the helm of the Red Flash … Maryland Eastern Shore will join the conference for 2025.

Quoteworthy: “I’m curious to see who the darkhorses are … who comes out of the NEC.” — Penn State’s Pavlik

MPSF
Teams (with 2023 conference records): UCLA (12-0), BYU (8-4), Stanford (6-6), Grand Canyon (6-6), Pepperdine (5-7), USC (3-9), Concordia (2-10)

Players to watch: MB Akin Akinwumi (Pepperdine), OH Ethan Champlin (UCLA), OPP Ido David (UCLA), OH Dillon Klein (USC), OH Alex Knight (UCLA), OH Kevin Lamp (Stanford), OH Merrick McHenry (UCLA), OH Trent Moser (BYU), OH Miks Ramanis (BYU), S Andrew Rowan (UCLA), S Nick Slight (GCU), MB Rico Wardlow (GCU)

Noteworthy: Concordia is under interim coach Chris Seiffert, who was hired in November … Pepperdine must replace conference player of the year Jaylen Jasper. … UCLA has the bulk of its roster back from last season’s national title team … Grand Canyon earned an at-large bid to the NC Tournament last season, the ’Lopes’ first trip to the tournament.

Quoteworthy: “We return a lot, but we also graduated a couple of players who had a significant impact on our season last year, especially with the way J.R. (Norris) came off the bench and played in that championship match. We’re going to have to find those points.” — UCLA coach John Speraw

MIVA
Schools (with 2023 conference record): Ball State (11-3), Loyola Chicago (11-3), Ohio State (11-3), Lewis (7-7), Purdue Fort Wayne (7-7), Lindenwood (7-7), McKendree (1-13), Quincy (1-13).

Players to watch: OPP Raje Alleyne (Quincy), OH John Diedrich (PFW), OH A.J. Lewis (Lindenwood), MB Nicodemus Meyer (Loyola), OH Tinaishe Ndavazocheva (Ball State), OH Jacob Pasteur (Ohio State), L Tommy Poole (Ohio State), OH Max Roquet (Lewis), OH Parker Van Buren (Loyola), MB Bryce Walker (PFW), OPP Shane Wetzel (Ohio State), S Michael Wright (Ohio State)

Noteworthy: Queens (Charlotte, N.C.) joins the MIVA, bringing the conference up to six Division I programs … Ohio State’s MIVA title last season was its 18th … Loyola Chicago’s John Hawks was the conference coach of the year in his first year with the program … Ohio State was picked to repeat as MIVA champ in the conference’s preseason poll … Ball State lost to Ohio State in five in the conference title match, denying the Cardinals back-to-back titles.

Quoteworthy: “There are a lot of teams that are returning a lot. Ohio State is returning a lot … Loyola is returning a lot … A lot of teams seem to be returning their main group of players.” — UCLA’s Speraw

SIAC
Schools (with 2023 conference record): Edward Waters (10-0), Central State (8-2), Benedict (6-5), Fort Valley State (4-6), Kentucky State (2-8), Morehouse (0-1)

Players to watch: L Diego Cardona (Fort Valley State), S Kenyon Haynes (Edward Waters), OH Jaxon Hicks (Fort Valley State), OH Kaelen Ingram (Edward Waters), MH Joelvi Jimenez (Edward Waters), MH Taviian Martin (Fort Valley State), OH Bryan Pepen (Edward Waters), L Victor Scherer (Central State), MH Rashaun Wright (Fort Valley State), S Justin Yates (Fort Valley State)

Noteworthy: The Division II conference made up of historically Black schools gets an automatic NCAA bid this year … In two seasons, the conference has had two different champions: Central State (2022) and Edward Waters (2023) … Of the six teams in the conference, four are coached by women. Edward Waters’ Lauren Ford was coach of the year.

Quoteworthy: “There has been a strong push by national leaders to grow the sport of men’s volleyball, especially among HBCUs. As commissioner, I can tell you there is a positive energy in the league and on our campuses about competing in men’s volleyball at the highest level.” — SIAC commissioner Anthony Holloman (via thesiac.com)

Conference Carolinas
Schools (with 2023 conference record): North Greenville (11-3), Erskine (9-5), King (8-6), Belmont Abbey (8-6), Lees-McRae (7-7), Mount Olive (6-8), Barton (4-10), Emmanuel (3-11)

Players to watch: MB Emanuel Adames (North Greenville), OH Edgerrin Austin (Erskine), OPP Nicholas Brewster (Lees-McRae), OH Warren Davis (King), MB Michael de la Cruz (North Greenville), L Nick Eichenberger (Emmanuel), MB Thomas Fanic (Barton), MB Kellan Kennedy (King), S Jackson Lahey (Mount Olive), S Francisco Pomar (Erskine), MB Ethan Rehmann (Belmont Abbey), OH Diego Rosich (North Greenville), OH Kacper Rybarczyk (Erskine)

Noteworthy: As the third seed, King won the conference tournament and the NCAA bid that cane with it … King now is under the direction of Marquis Clark, who was hired less than three weeks ago … North Greenville will host Pepperdine on March 9. The Waves return for the first time since 2015, when they helped the Crusaders inaugurate their program … The past four seasons, excluding the canceled 2020 season (COVID) have produced four different conference tournament champs: King (2023), North Greenville (2022), Belmont Abbey (2021) and Barton (2019).

Quoteworthy: “This was the right opportunity at the right time in the right place for me and my family. I’m humbled by the trust placed in me by this team and the administration and I can’t wait to get to work.” — Marquis Clark (via kingtornado.com)

East Coast
Schools: Alliance, American International, Dominican, Roberts Wesleyan, St. Thomas Aquinas

Noteworthy: This is the first season for the East Coast Conference in men’s volleyball … Roberts Wesleyan and St. Thomas Aquinas are full-time members of the conference, with Alliance, American International and Dominican as affiliate members for men’s volleyball … The five schools will play a double round-robin schedule and conduct a championship tournament at the end of the regular season … American International is battle-tested, having played against a number of Division I programs (mostly NEC) in its two previous years of existence … Dominican is the most established program of the group, having existed since 2014 … According to the ECC website, “The ECC plans to seek additional membership with hopes of reaching the minimum of six members needed to pursue an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championship.”