NCAA Men's Volleyball Countdown: No. 6 Lewis
NCAA Men's Volleyball Countdown: No. 6 Lewis
Get to know the 2016 Lewis men's volleyball team, which will feature a number of freshmen who could contend for starting spots.
FloVolleyball is excited to introduce our NCAA Men's Countdown, ranking the top 10 collegiate men's volleyball teams in the country leading up to the start of the 2017 season.
The No. 6 spot goes to Lewis this year, and here's why:
The Flyers have youth and promise at both setter and outside hitter.
19-13 overall, 10-6 in MIVA (fourth place)
2-1 in MIVA Tournament (lost 3-2 at Ohio State)
Final 2016 RPI: 12
Team Hitting Percentage: .306 (#7 in NCAA)
Team Blocks Per Set: 2.46 (#7)
3.15 kills/set; .325 (#21 in NCAA); 0.61 blocks/set
Jacob Schmeigelt | 6-6 | Senior | Middle Blocker
1.63 kills/set; .427; 1.03 blocks/set (#20 in NCAA)
Trevor Weiskircher | 6-7 | Senior | Outside Hitter
2.32 kills/set; .273; 0.48 blocks/set
Jake Walenga | 6-0 | Sophomore | Libero
2.04 digs/set (#27 in NCAA)
Julian Moses | 6-4 | Sophomore | Outside Hitter
3.00 kills/set; .252; 0.61 blocks/set
Ryan Coenen | 6-9 | Redshirt Freshman | Outside Hitter
Jacob Kerschner | 6-4 | Redshirt Freshman | Setter
Dalen Instenes | 6-5 | Redshirt Freshman | Outside Hitter
Kyle Bugee | 6-5 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Ryan Van Loo | 6-3 | Freshman | Setter
3.15 kills/set, .471 (#3 in NCAA); 1.11 blocks/set (#13
Scott Fifer | 6-3 | Setter
9.73 asssists/set (#16 in NCAA); 0.67 blocks/set
Patrick Lilly | 6-5 | Opposite
1.15 kills/set; .271; 0.18 blocks/set
Non-Conference Matches to Watch
January 6 vs. BYU
January 14 vs. Pepperdine
March 8 at UCLA
Coach Dan Friend (12th season) needs to replace graduated setter Scott Fifer, but Friend thinks has a good one in "very athletic" 6-5 sophomore Matt Yoshimoto. Six-foot-six senior middle blocker Jacob Schmeigelt is recovering nicely from offseason surgery but will get competition from 6-8 Cal Baptist transfer Danny Maurer and 6-9 senior John Hodul. Six-foot-nine redshirt freshman Ryan Coenen is leading the outside hitter pack, with 6-5 true freshman Kyle Bugee battling 6-7 senior Trevor Weiskircher for OH2. Six-foot-six sophomore Mitch Perinar will be the opposite, and sophomore Jake Walenga will start the season at libero.
Everyone in the MIVA will be chasing Ohio State; Lewis will need a lot from its young outsides to hold off Loyola and Ball State for second place.
10. USC
9. Stanford
8. UC Irvine
7. Hawaii
6. Lewis
5-1. Check back every day to see the remainder of the rankings!
Watch Episode One here.
Watch Episode One here.
The No. 6 spot goes to Lewis this year, and here's why:
The Upshot
The Flyers have youth and promise at both setter and outside hitter.
Last Season
19-13 overall, 10-6 in MIVA (fourth place)
2-1 in MIVA Tournament (lost 3-2 at Ohio State)
Final 2016 RPI: 12
Team Hitting Percentage: .306 (#7 in NCAA)
Team Blocks Per Set: 2.46 (#7)
The Players
RETURNING STARS
Mitch Perinar | 6-foot-6 | Sophomore | Opposite3.15 kills/set; .325 (#21 in NCAA); 0.61 blocks/set
Jacob Schmeigelt | 6-6 | Senior | Middle Blocker
1.63 kills/set; .427; 1.03 blocks/set (#20 in NCAA)
Trevor Weiskircher | 6-7 | Senior | Outside Hitter
2.32 kills/set; .273; 0.48 blocks/set
Jake Walenga | 6-0 | Sophomore | Libero
2.04 digs/set (#27 in NCAA)
Julian Moses | 6-4 | Sophomore | Outside Hitter
3.00 kills/set; .252; 0.61 blocks/set
PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Danny Maurer | 6-8 | Junior | Middle Blocker (transfer from Cal Baptist)Ryan Coenen | 6-9 | Redshirt Freshman | Outside Hitter
Jacob Kerschner | 6-4 | Redshirt Freshman | Setter
Dalen Instenes | 6-5 | Redshirt Freshman | Outside Hitter
Kyle Bugee | 6-5 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Ryan Van Loo | 6-3 | Freshman | Setter
BIGGEST LOSSES
Bobby Walsh | 6-9 | Middle Blocker3.15 kills/set, .471 (#3 in NCAA); 1.11 blocks/set (#13
Scott Fifer | 6-3 | Setter
9.73 asssists/set (#16 in NCAA); 0.67 blocks/set
Patrick Lilly | 6-5 | Opposite
1.15 kills/set; .271; 0.18 blocks/set
Non-Conference Matches to Watch
January 6 vs. BYU
January 14 vs. Pepperdine
March 8 at UCLA
Outlook
Coach Dan Friend (12th season) needs to replace graduated setter Scott Fifer, but Friend thinks has a good one in "very athletic" 6-5 sophomore Matt Yoshimoto. Six-foot-six senior middle blocker Jacob Schmeigelt is recovering nicely from offseason surgery but will get competition from 6-8 Cal Baptist transfer Danny Maurer and 6-9 senior John Hodul. Six-foot-nine redshirt freshman Ryan Coenen is leading the outside hitter pack, with 6-5 true freshman Kyle Bugee battling 6-7 senior Trevor Weiskircher for OH2. Six-foot-six sophomore Mitch Perinar will be the opposite, and sophomore Jake Walenga will start the season at libero.
Prediction
Everyone in the MIVA will be chasing Ohio State; Lewis will need a lot from its young outsides to hold off Loyola and Ball State for second place.
FloVolleyball NCAA Men's Volleyball Countdown
10. USC
9. Stanford
8. UC Irvine
7. Hawaii
6. Lewis
5-1. Check back every day to see the remainder of the rankings!
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The Program: Penn State
Watch Episode One here.
All In: USA Women's National Volleyball Team
Watch Episode One here.
