Friday, January 13
Fort Wayne, Ind.
7 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Carthage
Sergio Carrillo
Photo by: John Nagel
Purdue Fort Wayne Welcomes Division III Powerhouse Carthage to Gates
1/12/2023 2:01:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball will play host to Division III juggernaut Carthage on Friday (Jan. 13). Carthage has won the last two Division III national championships and has an overall record of 59-6 in three years under former Mastodon player and assistant coach JW Kieckhefer.
Game Day Information
Who: Carthage Firebirds
When: Friday, January 13 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne
Know Your Foe
Carthage is the owner of the last two NCAA Division III national championships. The Firebirds are 47-3 over the last two years, but have not played a Division I/II since 2016, when they picked up a win at Quincy and lost at Lindenwood. The Firebirds return three of their top four hitters from a year ago, but graduated their top performer, Matt Slivinski. Their setter, Gene McNulty, is also back. Carthage added former Mastodon Mitch Geiger to the roster as well this offseason.
Series History
The Mastodons are 5-3 against Carthage all-time, but the two teams have not played since 2012. Carthage won both matches in that season 3-1. The two teams' first match was in 2006, and was a MIVA match. The Firebirds were a MIVA member from 2005-07.
Carthage In the MIVA
Carthage and Purdue Fort Wayne overlapped in the MIVA when the Firebirds were in the league in 2005-07. Carthage competed in the Coleman Division while the 'Dons played in the Shondell/Dunlap Division. The two teams played just once in a MIVA regular season match, which the 'Dons won 3-0 in 2006. The two teams met again in the MIVA Tournament that season and the Mastodons won again in three sets. Carthage won the Coleman Division of the MIVA in 2007, its last season as a MIVA member.
The Last Time We Met...
The last time that Purdue Fort Wayne and Carthage played was 2012. That was also the last time that two Mastodons recorded 20+ digs in the same match. Eddie Rivera was one of the two. Who was the other? Former Mastodon and current Carthage head coach JW Kieckhefer.
Some JW Notes
Carthage head coach JW Kieckhefer played four years for the Mastodons before moving into an assistant coach role for the Mastodons. As a player, he racked up 480 digs, including 2.57 per set as a sophomore, which still ranks in the top five in program history for a single-season clip. As a coach, Kieckhefer assisted during the transition from legendary head coach Arnie Ball to current head coach Ryan "Rock" Perrotte. The highlight of his coaching career with the Mastodons was an upset over No. 3 UC Irvine on the road. In three years as the head coach at Carthage, Kieckhefer's teams have combined for a 59-6 record and two NCAA Division III national championships.
One Week, One Award
After Emmanuel Jurineack's first week of collegiate volleyball, he was named the MIVA Defensive Player of the Week on January 10. He had 10 blocks in his first six sets of action, including six against King. He finished the week with 1.67 blocks per set and 0.50 digs per set.
Block Party
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the nation with 3.25 blocks per set. Emmanuel Jurineack is third in the country with 1.67, Sergio Carillo and Mark Frazier are eighth with 1.17 and Bryce Walker is 17th with 1.00.
Mark It Down
After playing in just five matches in his freshman season, Mark Frazier started his sophomore season with a team-leading 3.17 kills per set in the opening weekend. Frazier had 12 kills against NJIT and seven in the opener against King.
Hello Old Friends
In his first match after graduating from King, Noah Melendez had seven digs against his former team. The libero from Carolina, Puerto Rico had 13 in his first week as a Mastodon, a team-best 2.17 per set.
High Expectations
Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker were selected by MIVA head coaches to the 2023 Preseason All-MIVA Team. Diedrich was a First Team All-MIVA honoree in 2022, while Walker was a Second Team pick.
In The Rankings
Purdue Fort Wayne finished the 2022 season as the No. 15 team in the AVCA Top 15 Coaches Poll. The Mastodons were ranked in the final three polls of the season. In the program's history, the Mastodons have been ranked in 317 weeks of the 587 possible Top 15 Coaches Polls. The 'Dons were receiving votes to start the year.
Chasing 1,000
Jon Diedrich is on pace to join the 1,000-kill club while at Purdue Fort Wayne. He has 740 kills and has averaged 3.32 kills per set in his career. If he continues this pace, he will hit the 1,000 mark in 78 sets.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne split the opening weekend with a win against King and a loss to (RV) NJIT. Both matches were 3-0 sweeps.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will take on a pair of opponents next weekend: first-year program Missouri S&T and EIVA foe Harvard. Missouri S&T has already played MIVA members Loyola Chicago and Lewis this season, both 3-0 losses.
Game Day Information
Who: Carthage Firebirds
When: Friday, January 13 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne
Know Your Foe
Carthage is the owner of the last two NCAA Division III national championships. The Firebirds are 47-3 over the last two years, but have not played a Division I/II since 2016, when they picked up a win at Quincy and lost at Lindenwood. The Firebirds return three of their top four hitters from a year ago, but graduated their top performer, Matt Slivinski. Their setter, Gene McNulty, is also back. Carthage added former Mastodon Mitch Geiger to the roster as well this offseason.
Series History
The Mastodons are 5-3 against Carthage all-time, but the two teams have not played since 2012. Carthage won both matches in that season 3-1. The two teams' first match was in 2006, and was a MIVA match. The Firebirds were a MIVA member from 2005-07.
Carthage In the MIVA
Carthage and Purdue Fort Wayne overlapped in the MIVA when the Firebirds were in the league in 2005-07. Carthage competed in the Coleman Division while the 'Dons played in the Shondell/Dunlap Division. The two teams played just once in a MIVA regular season match, which the 'Dons won 3-0 in 2006. The two teams met again in the MIVA Tournament that season and the Mastodons won again in three sets. Carthage won the Coleman Division of the MIVA in 2007, its last season as a MIVA member.
The Last Time We Met...
The last time that Purdue Fort Wayne and Carthage played was 2012. That was also the last time that two Mastodons recorded 20+ digs in the same match. Eddie Rivera was one of the two. Who was the other? Former Mastodon and current Carthage head coach JW Kieckhefer.
Some JW Notes
Carthage head coach JW Kieckhefer played four years for the Mastodons before moving into an assistant coach role for the Mastodons. As a player, he racked up 480 digs, including 2.57 per set as a sophomore, which still ranks in the top five in program history for a single-season clip. As a coach, Kieckhefer assisted during the transition from legendary head coach Arnie Ball to current head coach Ryan "Rock" Perrotte. The highlight of his coaching career with the Mastodons was an upset over No. 3 UC Irvine on the road. In three years as the head coach at Carthage, Kieckhefer's teams have combined for a 59-6 record and two NCAA Division III national championships.
One Week, One Award
After Emmanuel Jurineack's first week of collegiate volleyball, he was named the MIVA Defensive Player of the Week on January 10. He had 10 blocks in his first six sets of action, including six against King. He finished the week with 1.67 blocks per set and 0.50 digs per set.
Block Party
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the nation with 3.25 blocks per set. Emmanuel Jurineack is third in the country with 1.67, Sergio Carillo and Mark Frazier are eighth with 1.17 and Bryce Walker is 17th with 1.00.
Mark It Down
After playing in just five matches in his freshman season, Mark Frazier started his sophomore season with a team-leading 3.17 kills per set in the opening weekend. Frazier had 12 kills against NJIT and seven in the opener against King.
Hello Old Friends
In his first match after graduating from King, Noah Melendez had seven digs against his former team. The libero from Carolina, Puerto Rico had 13 in his first week as a Mastodon, a team-best 2.17 per set.
High Expectations
Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker were selected by MIVA head coaches to the 2023 Preseason All-MIVA Team. Diedrich was a First Team All-MIVA honoree in 2022, while Walker was a Second Team pick.
In The Rankings
Purdue Fort Wayne finished the 2022 season as the No. 15 team in the AVCA Top 15 Coaches Poll. The Mastodons were ranked in the final three polls of the season. In the program's history, the Mastodons have been ranked in 317 weeks of the 587 possible Top 15 Coaches Polls. The 'Dons were receiving votes to start the year.
Chasing 1,000
Jon Diedrich is on pace to join the 1,000-kill club while at Purdue Fort Wayne. He has 740 kills and has averaged 3.32 kills per set in his career. If he continues this pace, he will hit the 1,000 mark in 78 sets.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne split the opening weekend with a win against King and a loss to (RV) NJIT. Both matches were 3-0 sweeps.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will take on a pair of opponents next weekend: first-year program Missouri S&T and EIVA foe Harvard. Missouri S&T has already played MIVA members Loyola Chicago and Lewis this season, both 3-0 losses.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
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