Friday, January 6
Fort Wayne, Ind.
7 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
King
Axel Melendez Watts, Wilmer Hernandez, Sergio Carrillo, Noah Melendez, Carlos Mercado
Photo by: Jim Whitcraft
Mastodon Men's Volleyball Season Kicks Off Friday and Saturday
1/4/2023 2:15:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball team opens its season this weekend, with matches against King on Friday (Jan. 6) and NJIT on Saturday (Jan. 7) on the Arnie Ball Court.
Game Day Information (Friday)
Who: King Tornado
When: Friday, January 6 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | King
Game Day Information (Saturday)
Who: (RV) NJIT Highlanders
When: Saturday, January 7 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | NJIT
Know Your Foes
• King was 17-12 last season and 11-3 in the Conference Carolinas. The Tornado ended their season in the conference tournament semifinal with a 3-1 loss to Mount Olive. King graduated its top four hitters, secondary setter, and had its libero, Noah Melendez, transfer to Purdue Fort Wayne.
• NJIT was picked to finish second in the EIVA after a 17-11 season in 2022. The Highlanders fell to Princeton in the EIVA final a year ago, spoiling their first trip to the National Collegiate Tournament. NJIT returns its top two hitters from 2022: Julian Meissner and Alessandro Negri.
Series Histories
• The Mastodons are 3-0 against King all-time, and have only ever lost one set to the Tornado. These two teams met in the season opener in 2022, which saw Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker record 12 kills each. The 'Dons hit .403 in that contest.
• NJIT has won the last two matches, but prior to that, the Mastodons had won 15-of-16. The two teams have played at least once in all but two of the last 13 seasons. The Mastodons' last win was in 2019, a match in which no current member of the team was at Purdue Fort Wayne.
Last Season Recap
The Mastodons finished 2022 with a 17-13 record and a trip to the MIVA Championship match. The 'Dons beat No. 15 McKendree 3-1 and No. 11 Loyola Chicago 3-0 in the MIVA Tournament after starting from the No. 6 seed. It was the Mastodons' first trip to the MIVA Championship match since 2007.
Hello Old Friends
In his first match after transferring from King, Noah Melendez will play against his former Tornado teammates. Melendez spent four seasons at King, finishing second in program history with 621 digs.
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 586 possible Top 15 Coaches Polls. The Mastodons are receiving votes in the 2023 Preseason Poll.
A Good Diedrich
Jon Diedrich was named an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2022. He recorded 434 kills for a 3.98 per set average while chipping in 1.47 digs and 0.48 blocks per set and a .272 hitting percentage. All of those marks were career-bests.
Chasing 1,000
Jon Diedrich is on pace to join the 1,000-kill club while at Purdue Fort Wayne. He has 726 kills and has averaged 3.35 kills per set in his career. If he continues this pace, he will hit the 1,000 mark in 82 sets.
Going Solo-mon!
Setter Zach Solomon was named a Freshman All-American by Off the Block in 2022. He was one of two freshmen in the MIVA that were selected for the honor, the other being Parker Van Buren of Loyola Chicago.
All-Academic Honors
In 2022, Purdue Fort Wayne had 10 Mastodons earn Academic All-MIVA nods. Each of those 'Dons earned at least a 3.0 GPA in the spring semester. Five of those Mastodons are still on the team: Jon Diedrich, Wilmer Hernandez, Bryce Walker, Axel Melendez Watts and Davey Singer.
Road Warriors
The Mastodons were 11-7 away from home in 2022. This was the most wins on the road for a Mastodon team since 2007, the season in which the 'Dons went to the National Championship match.
Meet The Freshmen
There are four freshmen on the Mastodon roster for 2023. Ryan Steponaitis and Filip Kierzkowski were both VolleyballMag.com Top 50 selections. Cal Krohn was an All-State Second Team pick for the state of Wisconsin. Emmanuel Jurineack played club ball for 630 Volleyball Club where he was named Best Middle Blocker.
Green Light For Sergio
Sergio Carrillo spent the last four years at Conference Carolinas member North Greenville. Carrillo led the Crusaders to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Carrillo and North Greenville shocked Princeton for the Conference Carolinas' first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament. They fell to eventual champion Hawaii in the national semifinal. Carrillo was named to the All-Conference Carolinas Second Team his final two seasons in South Carolina.
Royal Melendez
The Mastodons added a three-time All-Conference Carolinas selection in Noah Melendez. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and a two-time First Team selection. He went to three Conference Carolinas Tournament semifinals and one championship match.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will welcome back-to-back Division III National Champion Carthage to the Gates Sports Center on January 13. The Firebirds are coached by former Mastodon player and assistant coach JW Kieckhefer. It is Carthage's first regular season match of the year.
Game Day Information (Friday)
Who: King Tornado
When: Friday, January 6 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | King
Game Day Information (Saturday)
Who: (RV) NJIT Highlanders
When: Saturday, January 7 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | NJIT
Know Your Foes
• King was 17-12 last season and 11-3 in the Conference Carolinas. The Tornado ended their season in the conference tournament semifinal with a 3-1 loss to Mount Olive. King graduated its top four hitters, secondary setter, and had its libero, Noah Melendez, transfer to Purdue Fort Wayne.
• NJIT was picked to finish second in the EIVA after a 17-11 season in 2022. The Highlanders fell to Princeton in the EIVA final a year ago, spoiling their first trip to the National Collegiate Tournament. NJIT returns its top two hitters from 2022: Julian Meissner and Alessandro Negri.
Series Histories
• The Mastodons are 3-0 against King all-time, and have only ever lost one set to the Tornado. These two teams met in the season opener in 2022, which saw Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker record 12 kills each. The 'Dons hit .403 in that contest.
• NJIT has won the last two matches, but prior to that, the Mastodons had won 15-of-16. The two teams have played at least once in all but two of the last 13 seasons. The Mastodons' last win was in 2019, a match in which no current member of the team was at Purdue Fort Wayne.
Last Season Recap
The Mastodons finished 2022 with a 17-13 record and a trip to the MIVA Championship match. The 'Dons beat No. 15 McKendree 3-1 and No. 11 Loyola Chicago 3-0 in the MIVA Tournament after starting from the No. 6 seed. It was the Mastodons' first trip to the MIVA Championship match since 2007.
Hello Old Friends
In his first match after transferring from King, Noah Melendez will play against his former Tornado teammates. Melendez spent four seasons at King, finishing second in program history with 621 digs.
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 586 possible Top 15 Coaches Polls. The Mastodons are receiving votes in the 2023 Preseason Poll.
A Good Diedrich
Jon Diedrich was named an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2022. He recorded 434 kills for a 3.98 per set average while chipping in 1.47 digs and 0.48 blocks per set and a .272 hitting percentage. All of those marks were career-bests.
Chasing 1,000
Jon Diedrich is on pace to join the 1,000-kill club while at Purdue Fort Wayne. He has 726 kills and has averaged 3.35 kills per set in his career. If he continues this pace, he will hit the 1,000 mark in 82 sets.
Going Solo-mon!
Setter Zach Solomon was named a Freshman All-American by Off the Block in 2022. He was one of two freshmen in the MIVA that were selected for the honor, the other being Parker Van Buren of Loyola Chicago.
All-Academic Honors
In 2022, Purdue Fort Wayne had 10 Mastodons earn Academic All-MIVA nods. Each of those 'Dons earned at least a 3.0 GPA in the spring semester. Five of those Mastodons are still on the team: Jon Diedrich, Wilmer Hernandez, Bryce Walker, Axel Melendez Watts and Davey Singer.
Road Warriors
The Mastodons were 11-7 away from home in 2022. This was the most wins on the road for a Mastodon team since 2007, the season in which the 'Dons went to the National Championship match.
Meet The Freshmen
There are four freshmen on the Mastodon roster for 2023. Ryan Steponaitis and Filip Kierzkowski were both VolleyballMag.com Top 50 selections. Cal Krohn was an All-State Second Team pick for the state of Wisconsin. Emmanuel Jurineack played club ball for 630 Volleyball Club where he was named Best Middle Blocker.
Green Light For Sergio
Sergio Carrillo spent the last four years at Conference Carolinas member North Greenville. Carrillo led the Crusaders to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Carrillo and North Greenville shocked Princeton for the Conference Carolinas' first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament. They fell to eventual champion Hawaii in the national semifinal. Carrillo was named to the All-Conference Carolinas Second Team his final two seasons in South Carolina.
Royal Melendez
The Mastodons added a three-time All-Conference Carolinas selection in Noah Melendez. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and a two-time First Team selection. He went to three Conference Carolinas Tournament semifinals and one championship match.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will welcome back-to-back Division III National Champion Carthage to the Gates Sports Center on January 13. The Firebirds are coached by former Mastodon player and assistant coach JW Kieckhefer. It is Carthage's first regular season match of the year.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
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