GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tuesday (Jan. 11) night ushers in the second chapter of the Tusculum University men's volleyball program, when the Pioneers open their season at home against North Greenville. After facing the Crusaders, TU is scheduled for a six-match road trip.
Newly-minted head coach Bryan Buckius has a slate of 26 regular season matches, including 10 within the confines of Pioneer Arena, before ending the campaign at the Independent Volleyball Association (IVA) Championship in late April.
Coming off of a 5-13 (2-6 IVA) record and bronze finish at the season-ending tournament, this year's roster is made up of 12 student-athletes: seven returners, four freshmen, and one transfer.
THIS WEEK
North Greenville also begins its season on Tuesday night in Tennessee. The Crusaders hold the 2-0 lead in the series history against the Pioneers, but this marks the first time that TU will have home court advantage. NGU went 13-5 overall in 2021 and was picked to finish in a tie for third in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll.
Brandon Baker landed the second-most kills on the team last season (131) and fired on a .458 hitting percentage. Setter Sergio Carrillo is also returning after dishing out 667 assists, a 10.11 per set rate. Carrillo also collected 29 service aces, second-best for the Crusaders. NGU's Christian Phung 137 digs led the way, followed by Carrillo's 86. Leading blocker Emanuel Adames is credited with 68 total from the front row.
Ball State will also have a match under its belt before Tusculum comes to town on Saturday. The Cardinals were ranked in a three-way tie for 15th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll and fourth in their conference list. Going 12-8 last season, Ball State will be under a new mentor for the first time in 24 years.
Kaleb Jenness registered 260 kills in 2021 as the leading returner, followed by 116 from Bryce Behrendt. Quinn Isaacson, the Cardinals' setter, collected 800 assists and landed a team-high 24 aces. He also finished with the most digs (143), ahead of Colin Ensalaco's 111. With 71 total blocks, Felix Egharevba was the best front row defender last season.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Tusculum is requiring face masks to be worn at all indoor events for the foreseeable future.
Ball State is also mandating masks at all indoor athletic events.
MEET THE TEAM
The Tusculum men's volleyball roster has international representation from Jamaica and Brazil, alongside players from Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Reese DeElena, a sophomore setter from Cedar Park, Texas, played in 10 sets across five matches, including one start. He totaled one kill, 50 assists, one ace, and 11 digs in his limited action.
Shaphar Grant, the program's leader in hitting percentage and blocks, appeared in 55 sets across 16 starts. The junior information technology major's .335 hitting percentage upped the record for a season while totaling 101 kills, four assists, four aces, 18 digs, and 43 blocks. The Kingston, Jamaica middle blocker reset his career-high in kills to 12. Grant also holds the program-best for hitting percentage in a match (15-19 attempts) with a .600 outing.
Shaun Kampshoff, the lone senior on the roster, will be shifting from a right side hitter to a setter during his final year. The Las Vegas, Nevada native is the program's career leader in kills, attempts, and aces. Kampshoff played in 41 sets between 15 matches (10 starts), finishing with a team-high 130 kills and 19 aces, 55 digs, six assists, and 17 blocks. The sport management major landed four aces in a match to tie the program record and crushed 17 kills in a match for a season-best.
Colby Landry, an outside hitter from Belle Rose, Louisiana, started eight of his 13 matches for a total of 38 sets. The sophomore sport management major notched 66 kills, seven aces, seven assists, 43 digs, and assisted with three blocks.
Dane Loup, a business management major, played in 61 sets across 17 starts during his first collegiate season. The outside hitter from Mandeville, Louisiana recorded 109 kills (second-most for the Pioneers), 12 assists, nine aces, 77 digs, and 16 block assists. In the IVA Tournament play-in match, Loup set the program record for hitting percentage (10-14 attempts) with a .727 clip, landing eight kills on 11 swings.
Hailing from Chesapeake, Virginia, Hunter Walck started 11 of his 13 matches played during his sophomore campaign. In 40 sets, the outside hitter is credited with 75 kills, eight assists, 13 aces, 39 digs, and four block assists. The criminal justice student is also tied for the program-best four aces in a single match.
Taylor West had a standout freshman season, earning Off the Block National Freshman of the Week for his performance over his debut weekend. The Colorado Springs, Colorado libero was the lone Pioneer to play in all 18 matches, collecting a program-high 94 digs and added 34 assists. A criminal justice major, West tied the TU three-set match record with 12 digs in his second collegiate outing.
Five new faces will grace the Tusculum roster for the first time: Jake Whyte, Arthur Della Nina, Corey Martin, Ross Miller, and Deklan Wingo.
Whyte, a transfer from Erskine, played two years for the Flying Fleet as a right side hitter. The Greenbrier, Tennessee native compiled 353 kills, 38 aces, 164 digs, and 46 total blocks during his time at the Conference Carolinas school. The history major's match-highs include 21 kills, four aces, 15 digs, and four blocks.
Della Nina is a freshman from Sao Paulo, Brazil, but the libero graduated from The King's Academy in Seymour, Tennessee.
Martin, a middle blocker, graduated from Catholic High School in his hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia and plans to major in business.
From Metairie, Louisiana, Miller is a libero who attended St. Martin's Episcopal School. The exercise science major lettered in four sports: baseball, soccer, football, and volleyball. Miller earned most valuable player and all-district defense on the pitch.
Wingo, an outside hitter from Chester, Virginia, set the school record for most kills in a match at Thomas Dale High School. Lettering twice in volleyball, the nursing major racked up All-Metro Team and Player of the Year, 6A State Player of the Year, regional Player of the Year, and team MVP honors. Wingo was also named to an All-America watchlist and finished as the state runner-up last season. During his senior campaign, he accumulated 214 kills, 78 digs, and 32 blocks.
