Photo by: Jim Whitcraft
Men's Volleyball Signs Four for 2020 Season
11/27/2018 2:19:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball signed Ryan Lively (St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville H.S.), Rico Wardlow (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook H.S.), Sean Califf (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest H.S.) and Jon Diedrich (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips H.S.) to join the Mastodons for the 2020 season.
Lively (Outside Hitter - 6-4) played four seasons for the Panthers, notching more than 200 kills in each of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. His squad won the Suburban Conference in 2018. Lively was selected as a two-time All-Metro First Team and a two-time First Team All-District in 2017 and 2018. He was a Second Team All-Suburban Conference selection as a junior and earned a place on the First Team as a senior. He was an All-Academic Team selection in 2017 and 2018. Lively also played club volleyball for High Performance St. Louis from 2016 and will continue through 2019. His club qualified for the Open Division at the national level in each of the three seasons he competed and finished third at the St. Louis Winter Qualifier in 2018. Off the court, Lively was involved in Konnect and the Special Olympics Steering Committee.
Wardlow (Middle Blocker/Right Side - 6-6) earned four letters for the Raiders, notching a career-high 31 kills in a single match. He was selected for the All-Academic team in each of his first three seasons. Wardlow played club ball for Sports Performance 18 Elite, 16 Mizuno, and USA Volleyball. With his Sports Performance squads, he finished second at the national competition in 2016/17 and fifth in 2017/18. Wardlow is a member of the National Honor Society.
Califf (Setter - 6-5) started for four years for the Huskies, earning a Ill.-Prep-Vb All-State Honorable Mention and a spot on the Ill.-Prep-Insider Second Team All-Area. He was the team MVP, in addition to a West Suburban All-Conference selection and Pioneer Press All-Area Honorable Mention. The Huskies were state finalists two years in a row under Califf's leadership. Califf also played for Sports Performance Volleyball for three years, which included a run to fifth in the U-18 Open at the national level and winning the St. Louis Qualifier. Apart from volleyball Califf was a member of the Ping-Pong Club.
Diedrich (Outside Hitter 6-6) played four seasons for the Panthers, leading the way to two straight district titles. He played for the Orlando Gold for four years, which was highlighted by defeating the top-ranked team in the nation. He was named an All-American in 2016. Diedrich will be the third in his family to play college volleyball, as his sister, Ashley, played NCAA Division II volleyball at South Carolina Aiken. She was named an AVCA All-America honorable mention in 2015. His brother, Richie, is currently a junior at Purdue Fort Wayne, so the brothers will get one year to play together at the collegiate level.
Purdue Fort Wayne will open its 2019 campaign on January 4 when NJIT visits Arnie Ball Court.
Lively (Outside Hitter - 6-4) played four seasons for the Panthers, notching more than 200 kills in each of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. His squad won the Suburban Conference in 2018. Lively was selected as a two-time All-Metro First Team and a two-time First Team All-District in 2017 and 2018. He was a Second Team All-Suburban Conference selection as a junior and earned a place on the First Team as a senior. He was an All-Academic Team selection in 2017 and 2018. Lively also played club volleyball for High Performance St. Louis from 2016 and will continue through 2019. His club qualified for the Open Division at the national level in each of the three seasons he competed and finished third at the St. Louis Winter Qualifier in 2018. Off the court, Lively was involved in Konnect and the Special Olympics Steering Committee.
Wardlow (Middle Blocker/Right Side - 6-6) earned four letters for the Raiders, notching a career-high 31 kills in a single match. He was selected for the All-Academic team in each of his first three seasons. Wardlow played club ball for Sports Performance 18 Elite, 16 Mizuno, and USA Volleyball. With his Sports Performance squads, he finished second at the national competition in 2016/17 and fifth in 2017/18. Wardlow is a member of the National Honor Society.
Califf (Setter - 6-5) started for four years for the Huskies, earning a Ill.-Prep-Vb All-State Honorable Mention and a spot on the Ill.-Prep-Insider Second Team All-Area. He was the team MVP, in addition to a West Suburban All-Conference selection and Pioneer Press All-Area Honorable Mention. The Huskies were state finalists two years in a row under Califf's leadership. Califf also played for Sports Performance Volleyball for three years, which included a run to fifth in the U-18 Open at the national level and winning the St. Louis Qualifier. Apart from volleyball Califf was a member of the Ping-Pong Club.
Diedrich (Outside Hitter 6-6) played four seasons for the Panthers, leading the way to two straight district titles. He played for the Orlando Gold for four years, which was highlighted by defeating the top-ranked team in the nation. He was named an All-American in 2016. Diedrich will be the third in his family to play college volleyball, as his sister, Ashley, played NCAA Division II volleyball at South Carolina Aiken. She was named an AVCA All-America honorable mention in 2015. His brother, Richie, is currently a junior at Purdue Fort Wayne, so the brothers will get one year to play together at the collegiate level.
Purdue Fort Wayne will open its 2019 campaign on January 4 when NJIT visits Arnie Ball Court.
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Players Mentioned
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