Mastodon Men's Volleyball Visits Queens For Two MIVA Matches

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The No. 20 Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball team will hit the road this week for two MIVA matches at Queens. It is the first time that the Mastodons have played Queens since the Royals joined the MIVA.

Game Day Information
Who: Queens Royals
When: Friday-Saturday, February 9-10 | 6 PM | 3 PM
Where: Charlotte, N.C. | Levine Center
Live Stats: Friday | Saturday
Watch: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Queens | MIVA

Know Your Foe
Queens is 5-6 and 1-1 to start its first MIVA season as a member of the conference. The Royals split a pair of five-set matches at Quincy. They are 3-2 at home this season with wins over Lees-McRae, Mount Olive and Erskine and two losses to top-10 Princeton. Jack Brinkman is leading the team with 3.21 kills per set this year on a .288 hitting percentage. Setter Daniel Leitao is averaging 8.37 assists and a team-high 1.32 digs per set.

Series History
Purdue Fort Wayne leads the all-time series with Queens 3-0. It dates back to 2019, Queens' second year of men's volleyball. The Mastodons have dropped just one set in the series. In the only match in Charlotte, Purdue Fort Wayne won 3-0 in 2018 behind six kills and eight blocks from Richie Diedrich, Jon's older brother.

Down Goes Number 8
Purdue Fort Wayne knocked off No. 8 Penn State on February 3, including a 20-18 fifth set. The Mastodons trailed 12-9 in the fifth before rattling off a 5-1 run. Mark Frazier had a career-high 24 kills in that contest.

That Seems Good
Bryce Walker's performance against No. 8 Penn State ranks as the third-best hitting percentage in the NCAA. He hit .909 with 10 kills on 11 errorless swings.

Efficient Hitting
The Mastodons have hit over .300 in five matches this season, including three over .400.

Hyper Efficient
Purdue Fort Wayne's .448 hitting percentage at Sacred Heart is the highest hitting percentage in the nation in four-set matches this season.

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.
11. Tony Luhning - 1345 (1988-91)
12. Andrew Sellan - 1315 (2008-11)
13. Darryl Shank - 1310 (2008-11)
14. Raul Papaleo - 1264 (1990-93)
15. Jon Diedrich - 1249 (2020-24)

Papa Jon
Fifth-year player Jon Diedrich is the active NCAA career leader with 1,238 kills. Ohio State's Jacob Pasteur is right behind with 1,211.

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 - 87 (2021-24)

Bryce the Beast
Bryce Walker has the best career hitting percentage among active MIVA players with a .350 clip. His percentage of .332 last season was fifth in the conference. If he had enough attempts, his percentage of .494 would be third-best in the nation.

Now Walk It Out
Bryce Walker's career mark of 87 aces is the second-most among active middle blockers in the country and the most in the MIVA.

MIVA, You Already Know Jon
Jon Diedrich was selected as the MIVA Offensive Player of the Week on February 6 after leading the 'Dons to a pair of five-set wins over Saint Francis (Pa.) and No. 8 Penn State.

Last Time Out
The Mastodons are coming off an eventful stretch of three matches in five days, which saw them win five-setters against Saint Francis (Pa.) and No. 8 Penn State.

Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will head down I-69 to play at No. 11 Ball State on February 15.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Mastodon Men's Volleyball Visits Queens For Two MIVA Matches

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jon Diedrich

Mark Frazier

Bryce Walker

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics