Friday, January 5
Fort Wayne, Ind.
6 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
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Thomas More
Jon Diedrich
Photo by: Rachel Von Art
Mastodon Men's Volleyball Opens 2024 Season This Weekend
1/4/2024 1:06:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball team returns for 2024 this weekend when Thomas More and North Greenville visit the Gates Sports Center.
Game Day Information (Friday)
Who: Thomas More Saints
When: Friday, January 5 | 6 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Thomas More | MIVA
Game Day Information (Saturday)
Who: North Greenville Crusaders
When: Saturday, January 6 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | North Greenville | MIVA
Know Your Foes
• Thomas More was 13-13 a year ago, with the Saints' best win coming early in the year: a five-set win at Alderson Broaddus. The Saints have their top four attackers and both of their primary setters back from last year. Ben Albers was Thomas More's biggest offensive threat in 2023, finishing with 171 kills for 2.22 per set.
• North Greenville was 19-8 last season and return all eight players that had at least 15 kills in 2023. NGU also has their setter, Jorge Riesgo, back for his senior season. The Crusaders were upset in the Conference Carolinas final last April in their bid for their second consecutive NCAA tournament berth.
Last Season Reset
Purdue Fort Wayne was 16-13 and 7-7 in the MIVA last season. The Mastodons were a stout 11-4 in the Gates Sports Center. The season was highlighted by a 3-2 victory over No. 9 Loyola Chicago, which saw Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker record 19 and 14 kills, respectively.
Hello Old Friends
Thomas More was a member of the MIVA in the 1995-97 seasons, in which they played the Mastodons six times. The Mastodons won all six matches 3-0. The last time the two teams met, head coach Ryan "Rock" Perrotte was a sophomore for the Mastodons. The Thomas More program was cut, then reinstated prior to the 2019 season. After competing in the NAIA's Mid-South Conference for the last four years, Thomas More made the jump to Division II and are now independent. The Saints compete in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference for most sports.
And Hello New Friends
This is the first-ever meeting between the Mastodons and the North Greenville Crusaders. NGU is a Division II member of the Conference Carolinas, which the Crusaders won in 2022 to earn a berth to the NCAA tournament. NGU beat Princeton 3-0 in the opening round behind the leadership of setter Sergio Carrillo, who played for the Mastodons a year later.
Century Club
Ryan "Rock" Perrotte's next win will be his 100th as the head coach of Purdue Fort Wayne. It will also be the program's 300th win with Perrotte as a member of the coaching staff.
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 - 1115 (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 - 83 (2021-23)
Bryce the Beast
Bryce Walker has the second-best career hitting percentage among active MIVA players with a .339 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 (behind North Greenville's Michael de la Cruz) 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: Jon Diedrich, Emmanual Jurineack, Noah Melendez, Mark Frazier and Sergio Carrillo. This matched Ohio State for the most unique selections among all MIVA teams last season.
Papa Jon
Fifth-year player Jon Diedrich is the active NCAA career leader with 1,115 kills. Ohio State's Jacob Pasteur is right behind at 1,102.
Indeed-rich
Jon Diedrich is the only player in Mastodon history to be named MIVA Player of the Week in four different seasons since the honor was first awarded in 1998.
High Expectations
Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker were selected by MIVA head coaches to the 2024 Preseason All-MIVA Team. Both Diedrich and Walker were All-MIVA First Team honorees in 2023. The year before, Diedrich was a First Teamer and Walker was a Second Team pick.
Even Higher For Jon
Jon Diedrich was named a Preseason All-American Second Team honoree by Off the Block in December. The fifth-year player was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2022 as a junior when he averaged 3.98 kills per set.
New MIVA Tournament Format
The MIVA Tournament has a new format for the 2024 season. The top eight teams will qualify for the tournament. The top four seeds will host the bottom four, then the four semifinalists will reseed and play at the highest remaining seed. Then the finalists will play the same site as the semifinals for the newly named Don Shondell MIVA Championship Trophy.
Hall Of Fame Newcomers
A pair of Mastodon men's volleyball alumni will be inducted in the Mastodon Hall of Fame on February 4. Felipe Ralat (1992-95) helped the Mastodons to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 1992 and 1994 and left Fort Wayne as one of the best blockers in program history. Tim Heffron (1986-90) helped the 'Dons to the 1989 regular season title, then went on to coach the women's program and serve in multiple administration roles. He was a two-time GLVC Coach of the Year with a career record of 157-62 (.717).
Coming Up
The Mastodons will hit the road for a pair of matches on the East Coast. The 'Dons will visit Sacred Heart on January 12 and NJIT the following day. Purdue Fort Wayne has a combined all-time record of 26-6 against those two teams.
Game Day Information (Friday)
Who: Thomas More Saints
When: Friday, January 5 | 6 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Thomas More | MIVA
Game Day Information (Saturday)
Who: North Greenville Crusaders
When: Saturday, January 6 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | North Greenville | MIVA
Know Your Foes
• Thomas More was 13-13 a year ago, with the Saints' best win coming early in the year: a five-set win at Alderson Broaddus. The Saints have their top four attackers and both of their primary setters back from last year. Ben Albers was Thomas More's biggest offensive threat in 2023, finishing with 171 kills for 2.22 per set.
• North Greenville was 19-8 last season and return all eight players that had at least 15 kills in 2023. NGU also has their setter, Jorge Riesgo, back for his senior season. The Crusaders were upset in the Conference Carolinas final last April in their bid for their second consecutive NCAA tournament berth.
Last Season Reset
Purdue Fort Wayne was 16-13 and 7-7 in the MIVA last season. The Mastodons were a stout 11-4 in the Gates Sports Center. The season was highlighted by a 3-2 victory over No. 9 Loyola Chicago, which saw Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker record 19 and 14 kills, respectively.
Hello Old Friends
Thomas More was a member of the MIVA in the 1995-97 seasons, in which they played the Mastodons six times. The Mastodons won all six matches 3-0. The last time the two teams met, head coach Ryan "Rock" Perrotte was a sophomore for the Mastodons. The Thomas More program was cut, then reinstated prior to the 2019 season. After competing in the NAIA's Mid-South Conference for the last four years, Thomas More made the jump to Division II and are now independent. The Saints compete in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference for most sports.
And Hello New Friends
This is the first-ever meeting between the Mastodons and the North Greenville Crusaders. NGU is a Division II member of the Conference Carolinas, which the Crusaders won in 2022 to earn a berth to the NCAA tournament. NGU beat Princeton 3-0 in the opening round behind the leadership of setter Sergio Carrillo, who played for the Mastodons a year later.
Century Club
Ryan "Rock" Perrotte's next win will be his 100th as the head coach of Purdue Fort Wayne. It will also be the program's 300th win with Perrotte as a member of the coaching staff.
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 - 1115 (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 - 83 (2021-23)
Bryce the Beast
Bryce Walker has the second-best career hitting percentage among active MIVA players with a .339 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 (behind North Greenville's Michael de la Cruz) 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: Jon Diedrich, Emmanual Jurineack, Noah Melendez, Mark Frazier and Sergio Carrillo. This matched Ohio State for the most unique selections among all MIVA teams last season.
Papa Jon
Fifth-year player Jon Diedrich is the active NCAA career leader with 1,115 kills. Ohio State's Jacob Pasteur is right behind at 1,102.
Indeed-rich
Jon Diedrich is the only player in Mastodon history to be named MIVA Player of the Week in four different seasons since the honor was first awarded in 1998.
High Expectations
Jon Diedrich and Bryce Walker were selected by MIVA head coaches to the 2024 Preseason All-MIVA Team. Both Diedrich and Walker were All-MIVA First Team honorees in 2023. The year before, Diedrich was a First Teamer and Walker was a Second Team pick.
Even Higher For Jon
Jon Diedrich was named a Preseason All-American Second Team honoree by Off the Block in December. The fifth-year player was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2022 as a junior when he averaged 3.98 kills per set.
New MIVA Tournament Format
The MIVA Tournament has a new format for the 2024 season. The top eight teams will qualify for the tournament. The top four seeds will host the bottom four, then the four semifinalists will reseed and play at the highest remaining seed. Then the finalists will play the same site as the semifinals for the newly named Don Shondell MIVA Championship Trophy.
Hall Of Fame Newcomers
A pair of Mastodon men's volleyball alumni will be inducted in the Mastodon Hall of Fame on February 4. Felipe Ralat (1992-95) helped the Mastodons to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 1992 and 1994 and left Fort Wayne as one of the best blockers in program history. Tim Heffron (1986-90) helped the 'Dons to the 1989 regular season title, then went on to coach the women's program and serve in multiple administration roles. He was a two-time GLVC Coach of the Year with a career record of 157-62 (.717).
Coming Up
The Mastodons will hit the road for a pair of matches on the East Coast. The 'Dons will visit Sacred Heart on January 12 and NJIT the following day. Purdue Fort Wayne has a combined all-time record of 26-6 against those two teams.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
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Players Mentioned
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PFW vs Lindenwood (Mens Volleyball)
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