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MCVL, U.S.A. -- The results of the 2024 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League's Preseason Poll as voted by the league's 10 head coaches:
2024 MCVL Coaches Pre-Season Poll
| Place |
Team |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Baldwin Wallace |
78 (7) |
| t2. |
Mount Union |
66 (1) |
| t2. |
Wittenberg |
66 (1) |
| 4. |
Trine |
58 (1) |
| 5. |
Adrian |
47 |
| 6. |
Fontbonne |
44 |
| 7. |
Calvin |
29 |
| 8. |
Wabash |
27 |
| 9. |
Mount St. Joseph |
22 |
| 10. |
Olivet |
13 |
Baldwin Wallace University has been chosen as the favorite for the 2024 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League's regular-season title. The Yellow Jackets were the MCVL's tournament champion and regular-season tri-champion, and were the league's representative in the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship. The MCVL crosses a couple of milestones in 2024, competing as a league for the 10th year and adding a team to its ranks. Calvin University is the league's newest member.
Kyle Mars is BWU's head coach. He led the Jackets (78 points in the preseason poll) to a 7-1 league record last season, tying both Mount Union and Wittenberg for the top spot in the regular season. It was Mount Union, coached by Matt Mihelic, ended up hosting the MCVL tournament as a result of the league's tie-breaker, and the Purple Raiders made it to the championship match against Baldwin Wallace. The Yellow Jackets won the extremely tight championship match, 3-1, edging UMU in the decisive fourth set, 30-28. Wittenberg (66 points), coached by 2023 MCVL Coach of the Year Nathan Matthews, lost to BWU in last year's semis, 3-1, and tied Mount Union (66 points) in the 2024 poll results that were conducted among the MCVL's 10 head coaches. Trine was the fourth team in last year's postseason tournament. The Thunder are picked fourth this year (58 points). Adrian (47) is fifth in the poll, followed by Fontbonne (44), Calvin (29), Wabash (27), Mount St. Joseph (22), and Olivet (13).
The on-paper stuff starts to become irrelevant on Friday, March 1 with four league matches. Wabash is the first team to hit the non-league court on January 3.
Digging Deeper ...
| 1. Baldwin Wallace |
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| Head Coach |
Kyle Mars |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
26-8 / 7-1 (t1st) |
| 2023 MCVL Tournament |
TOURNAMENT CHAMPION (defeated Mount Union in championship, 3-1) |
| Key Returnees |
Michael Beard (Jr., OH) > 1st Team All-MCVL and MCVL All-Tournament Team in 2023; Brandon Long (Jr., S) > 1st Team All-MCVL and MCVL All-Tournament Team in 2023; Michael Devlin (So., RS) > 1st Team All-MCVL in 2023. |
| Coach Mars Quote |
"This team is excited for the upcoming season, adding a great group of freshman athletes to what is an already incredible group who built this program from the ground up. We're grateful to be able to represent Baldwin Wallace and compete in the MCVL." |
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| t2. Mount Union |
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| Head Coach |
Matt Mihelic |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
21-6 / 7-1 (t1st) |
| 2023 MCVL Tournament |
Runner-Up (lost to Baldwin Wallace in championship, 1-3) |
| Key Returnees |
Jack McClure (Sr., Opp) > 2nd Team All-MCVL in 2023; Will Heeney (Jr., S) > 2nd in MCVL with 9.79 assists/set; Aaron Armour (Jr., DS) > 2nd in the MCVL with 3.04 digs/set. |
| Coach Mihelic Quote |
"We have a great group of guys. Players in different positions that are thriving. Our goal is once again to make the MCVL tournament at the end of the season. If we do, I believe we will be a team that nobody is going to want to see."
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| t2. Wittenberg |
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| Head Coach |
Nathan Matthews (2023 MCVL Coach of the Year) |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
19-10 / 7-1 (t1st) |
| 2023 MCVL Tournament |
Semifinal (lost to Baldwin Wallace, 1-3) |
| Key Returnees |
Tom Supan (Sr., OH) > 1st Team All-MCVL in 2023; 2nd Team All-MCVL in 2022; Eli Halverson (So., OH) > 1st Team All-MCVL in 2023; Michael Yurk (So., OH) > 18th in MCVL with with 2.35 kills/set. |
| Coach Matthews Quote |
"Our 2023 team capped off a very special journey. Going from last place to tri-champions in two seasons was such a meaningful experience for everyone in our program. In 2024, we are striving to finish the job but we understand just how difficult that will be. The level of play is rising rapidly throughout the league thanks to the addition of more elite players, passionate coaches, and well-supported programs. Some of the best volleyball in the country will be played in the MCVL and I am excited to see our teams prove that on the national stage." |
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| 4. Trine |
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| Head Coach |
Will Dowdy |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
14-13 / 5-3 (4th) |
| 2023 MCVL Tournament |
Semifinal (lost to Mount Union, 1-3) |
| Key Returnees |
Hunter Haas (Sr., L) > Three-time MCVL Defensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All-MCVL; 2021 MCVL Rookie of the Year; Kevin Boncaro (Jr., Opp) > 1st Team All-MCVL in 2023; Ted Hofmeister (Sr., OH) 2nd Team All-MCVL in 2023; 1st Team All-MCVL in 2022. |
| Coach Dowdy Quote |
"We saw a lot of growth within our program this fall and are excited to see how it will translate to this season. I think this is the most talent we have seen in the MCVL, which will provide a lot of exciting matches every week of league play." |
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| 5. Adrian |
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| Head Coach |
Jose Soto |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
16-11 / 3-5 (6th) |
| Key Returnees |
Chase Heuer (Sr., OH) > 1st Team All-MCVL in 2023 and 2022; Andrew Gawrisch (Sr., S/RS) > 9th in MCVL with 5.65 assists/set; Carson Bell (So., MB) > 8th in MCVL with 0.69 blocks/set. |
| Coach Soto Quote |
"Words cannot express how excited we are for this upcoming season. We are returning the majority of our core players from last season and have added some new faces that can help to propel us forward. This fall, the guys have been working tirelessly to prepare for this upcoming season so that we reach our goals. We are excited for the season to start and wish everyone good luck." |
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| 6. Fontbonne |
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| Head Coach |
TJ Vorva |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
14-11 / 4-4 (5th) |
| Key Returnees |
Cam Graves (Sr., OH) 19th in MCVL with 2.33 kills/set; Logan Irby (Jr., MH) 5th in MCVL with 0.89 blocks/set. |
| Coach Vorva Quote |
"Although we have lots of new faces on the court and on the coaching staff, we have spent this fall creating a standard to help us reach our goal of returning to the MCVL tournament. The program is itching to get rolling this season and I am proud to coach these young men!" |
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| 7. Calvin |
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| Head Coach |
Spencer Fredrick |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
First season in league in 2024 |
| Key Players |
Gabe Loughlin (Jr., Opp); Jonathan Pheifer (Grad., L/DS); Arie Padmos (Jr., OH) > transfer from Santa Barbara City College. |
| Coach Fredrick Quote |
"I am very excited to be starting our inaugural season in the MCVL and thankful for the opportunity to play in such a competitive league. I can not wait to showcase our talent! Even though we are a new program, I have been very impressed with some of our club players." |
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| 8. Wabash |
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| Head Coach |
Ashaun Baker |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
9-19 / 1-7 (t7th) |
| Key Returnees |
Ricky Sessions (Sr., OH) > 9th in MCVL with 2.88 kills/set; Jackson Leeper (Jr., MB) > 3rd in MCVL with 0.92 blocks/set; Will Beikes (Jr., S) 5th in MCVL with 8.16 assists/set. |
| Coach Baker Quote |
"Our Wabash team is an exciting and driven team. With a talented group of freshman athletes and a well-seasoned group of veterans, we look to build upon the success of previous seasons. The Little Giants are putting in a great effort on and off the court and I look forward to watching their success." |
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| 9. Mount St. Joseph |
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| Head Coach |
Eric Santiago Garcia |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
8-13 / 1-7 (t7th) |
| Key Returnees |
Ryan Bollhauer (Jr., MH) > 2nd Team All-MCVL in 2023; Ben Carmosino (Jr., MH) > 9th in MCVL with 2.72 kills/set; Logan Essen (Sr., L/DS) > 3rd in MCVL with 3.03 digs/set. |
| Coach Santiago Garcia Quote |
"Coming off a tough year, 2024 will serve as a great opportunity for this talented squad to come together and give a new meaning to what MSJ volleyball is all about. This squad put in the work in the fall and it yielded many positives. Now we're looking to put it all together in a consistent manner in order to be able to take a step forward this upcoming season." |
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| 10. Olivet |
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| Head Coach |
Gabe Murley |
| 2023 Overall / MCVL Record (Place) |
8-15 / 1-7 (t7th) |
| Key Returnees |
Quinn Dickerson (Sr., MB) 14th in MCVL with 2.75 kills/set in league matches; Everett Haynes (Sr., S) 6th in MCVL with 7.46 assists/set. |
| Coach Murley Quote |
"This team returns seven players that played in every set during the 2023 MCVL season. We've added several newcomers in the offseason that should give us depth in many key positions. We are looking forward to the upcoming 2024 MCVL season." |
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