Friday, January 12
Fairfield, Conn.
7 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
at
Sacred Heart
Photo by: John Nagel
'Dons Hit East Coast For Matches at Sacred Heart and NJIT
1/11/2024 3:39:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball heads east for a pair of matches on the road this week at Sacred Heart (Friday, Jan. 12) and NJIT (Saturday, Jan. 13).
Game Day Information (Friday)
Who: Sacred Heart Pioneers
When: Friday, January 12 | 7 PM
Where: Fairfield, Conn. | William H. Pitt Athletic & Convocation Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: NEC Front Row
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Sacred Heart | MIVA
Game Day Information (Saturday)
Who: NJIT Pioneers
When: Saturday, January 13 | 7 PM
Where: Newark, N.J. | Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: America East Stream
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | NJIT | MIVA
Know Your Foes
• Sacred Heart was 12-13 a year ago and started 2024 off 0-1 with a loss to Stevens.. The Pioneers have three of their top four attackers back from last year. Patrick Mucherino was Sacred Heart's biggest offensive threat in 2023, finishing with 282 kills for 3.32 per set. Mark Berry, with similar numbers, finished the 2023 season with 274 kills for 3.15 a set.
• NJIT started its season 0-3 after playing two ranked opponents (UC Santa Barbara and CSUN), with the third becoming ranked the following week (UC San Diego). Alessandro Negri was NJIT's biggest offensive threat in 2023, finishing the season with 263 kills, almost 100 more kills than anyone else on the team, for 3.13 per set. Negri has picked up where he left off last season with 38 kills for 3.17 a set in the first three matches.
Series Histories
• The 'Dons have a 11-2 overall record against Sacred Heart, including five straight wins in the last five. Both wins by the Pioneers have come on their home court, once in the first meeting in 2011 and again in 2017. In last year's Mastodon win, Mark Frazier had 13 kills while hitting .500. The Pioneers' leading attacker, Mark Berry, also finished with 13 kills on .579 hitting.
• The 'Dons have a 15-4 record against NJIT , losing in the last three meetings. The first meeting between the Mastodons and the Highlanders was in 1987. In the last match, Mark Frazier had 12 kills. The Highlanders' leading hitter, Alessandro Negri, led the game with 14 kills while hitting .478 and notching four aces.
Movin' Up The List
Jon Diedrich joined the 1,000-kill club in 2023 in a match against Charleston. He is among the 20 Mastodons that have eclipsed this mark. Here's where he ranks.
12. Andrew Sellan - 1315 (2008-11)
13. Darryl Shank - 1310 (2008-11)
14. Raul Papaleo - 1264 (1990-93)
15. Ted Owen - 1206 (1984-87)
16. Jon Diedrich - 1142 (2020-24)
Hello, My Name Is Bryce And I'll Be Your Server
Bryce Walker is nearing the program's all-time top-10 list for aces.
13. Loren Gebert - 97 (1983-86)
14. Scott Lane - 95 (1999-00)
15. Hector Soto - 90 (1997-00)
16. Omar Rivera - 89 (2012-15)
17. Bryce Walker - 84 (2021-24)
Bryce the Beast
Bryce Walker has the best career hitting percentage among active MIVA players with a .336 clip. His percentage of .332 last season was fifth in the conference.
Now Walk It Out
Bryce Walker's career mark of 0.34 aces per set is the second-most among active middle blockers in the country and the most in the MIVA. This mark is also top-25 overall and fifth in the MIVA among all positions.
Players and Players and Players... of the Week
Last season, the Mastodons had five different players earn a Player of the Week award. This matched Ohio State for the most unique selections among all MIVA teams last season.
MIVA, Meet Andrej
In the first week of the 2024 season, Purdue Fort Wayne freshman Andrej Polomac was awarded MIVA Offensive Player of the Week. He dished out 11.17 assists per set while leading the team to a .386 combined hitting percentage.
Century Club
Ryan "Rock" Perrotte's first win of the 2024 season put him at 100 total wins as the head coach of Purdue Fort Wayne. This win was also the program's 300th win with Perrotte as a member of the coaching staff.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne went 2-0 last weekend, picking up wins over Thomas More and North Greenville. Both were 3-0 wins for the 'Dons.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will host a single match against Maryville on January 19. Then the 'Dons will host top-five Hawaii on January 25-26 for a pair of marquee matches.
Game Day Information (Friday)
Who: Sacred Heart Pioneers
When: Friday, January 12 | 7 PM
Where: Fairfield, Conn. | William H. Pitt Athletic & Convocation Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: NEC Front Row
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Sacred Heart | MIVA
Game Day Information (Saturday)
Who: NJIT Pioneers
When: Saturday, January 13 | 7 PM
Where: Newark, N.J. | Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: America East Stream
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | NJIT | MIVA
Know Your Foes
• Sacred Heart was 12-13 a year ago and started 2024 off 0-1 with a loss to Stevens.. The Pioneers have three of their top four attackers back from last year. Patrick Mucherino was Sacred Heart's biggest offensive threat in 2023, finishing with 282 kills for 3.32 per set. Mark Berry, with similar numbers, finished the 2023 season with 274 kills for 3.15 a set.
• NJIT started its season 0-3 after playing two ranked opponents (UC Santa Barbara and CSUN), with the third becoming ranked the following week (UC San Diego). Alessandro Negri was NJIT's biggest offensive threat in 2023, finishing the season with 263 kills, almost 100 more kills than anyone else on the team, for 3.13 per set. Negri has picked up where he left off last season with 38 kills for 3.17 a set in the first three matches.
Series Histories
• The 'Dons have a 11-2 overall record against Sacred Heart, including five straight wins in the last five. Both wins by the Pioneers have come on their home court, once in the first meeting in 2011 and again in 2017. In last year's Mastodon win, Mark Frazier had 13 kills while hitting .500. The Pioneers' leading attacker, Mark Berry, also finished with 13 kills on .579 hitting.
• The 'Dons have a 15-4 record against NJIT , losing in the last three meetings. The first meeting between the Mastodons and the Highlanders was in 1987. In the last match, Mark Frazier had 12 kills. The Highlanders' leading hitter, Alessandro Negri, led the game with 14 kills while hitting .478 and notching four aces.
Movin' Up The List
Jon Diedrich joined the 1,000-kill club in 2023 in a match against Charleston. He is among the 20 Mastodons that have eclipsed this mark. Here's where he ranks.
12. Andrew Sellan - 1315 (2008-11)
13. Darryl Shank - 1310 (2008-11)
14. Raul Papaleo - 1264 (1990-93)
15. Ted Owen - 1206 (1984-87)
16. Jon Diedrich - 1142 (2020-24)
Hello, My Name Is Bryce And I'll Be Your Server
Bryce Walker is nearing the program's all-time top-10 list for aces.
13. Loren Gebert - 97 (1983-86)
14. Scott Lane - 95 (1999-00)
15. Hector Soto - 90 (1997-00)
16. Omar Rivera - 89 (2012-15)
17. Bryce Walker - 84 (2021-24)
Bryce the Beast
Bryce Walker has the best career hitting percentage among active MIVA players with a .336 clip. His percentage of .332 last season was fifth in the conference.
Now Walk It Out
Bryce Walker's career mark of 0.34 aces per set is the second-most among active middle blockers in the country and the most in the MIVA. This mark is also top-25 overall and fifth in the MIVA among all positions.
Players and Players and Players... of the Week
Last season, the Mastodons had five different players earn a Player of the Week award. This matched Ohio State for the most unique selections among all MIVA teams last season.
MIVA, Meet Andrej
In the first week of the 2024 season, Purdue Fort Wayne freshman Andrej Polomac was awarded MIVA Offensive Player of the Week. He dished out 11.17 assists per set while leading the team to a .386 combined hitting percentage.
Century Club
Ryan "Rock" Perrotte's first win of the 2024 season put him at 100 total wins as the head coach of Purdue Fort Wayne. This win was also the program's 300th win with Perrotte as a member of the coaching staff.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne went 2-0 last weekend, picking up wins over Thomas More and North Greenville. Both were 3-0 wins for the 'Dons.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will host a single match against Maryville on January 19. Then the 'Dons will host top-five Hawaii on January 25-26 for a pair of marquee matches.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
OH/OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
MB
/ Men's VolleyballPFW vs Maryville (Men's Volleyball)
Tuesday, March 11
PFW vs Thomas More (Mens Volleyball)
Friday, March 07
PFW vs Lindenwood (Mens Volleyball)
Friday, February 28
PFW vs Queens (Mens Volleyball)
Thursday, February 13
