Purdue Fort Wayne Hosts Ranked MIVA Opponents

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball team looks onto their next MIVA opponents, No. 13 Lindenwood (Feb. 12) and No. 12 McKendree (Feb. 13), after winning four straight.

Game Day Information
Who: No. 13 Lindenwood
When: Thursday, February 13 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Watch: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: MIVA | Purdue Fort Wayne

Game Day Information
Who: No. 12 McKendree
When: Friday, February 13 | 6 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Watch: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: MIVA | Purdue Fort Wayne

Know Your Foes
Lindenwood is coming into the match on an eight match win streak, starting the season 8-1 with their only loss to No. 3 Long Beach State in the season opener. The Lions have beaten three ranked teams this season: No. 12 CSUN, No. 7 Loyola Chicago and No. 11 Lewis. Lindenwood is tied for first in the MIVA after the first weekend, going 2-0. The Lions flexed their offensive power during the first weekend, sitting atop of MIVA stats for points per set (18.57), kills per set (13.71), hitting percentage (.367), service aces per set (3.00), assists per set (13.29) and opponents digs per set (5.43). Lindenwood has been the second best team in service aces nationally this season, averaging 2.68 a set. Setter Zach Solomon is third in the nation in both aces per set (0.81) and assists per set (10.94). Solomon was named AVCA National Player of the week and MIVA Offensive Player of the Week after his performance last week, his second MIVA OPOTW selection this season. Luke Kraft is also top 10 nationally in service aces per set, sitting at sixth with 0.61. Senior Brendan Louthain leads the Lions on offense with 4.11 points per set and 3.23 kills per set.

McKendree has started the season 6-4, 1-1 in MIVA play. The Bearcats have beaten No. 10 Penn State twice and No. 11 Lewis this season, while taking losses to No. 1 UCLA, No. 3 Long Beach State and No. 7 Loyola Chicago. McKendree ranks fourth nationally in both assists per set (12.29) and digs per set (10.24), along with 10th in kills per set (12.82). The Bearcats' 11 digs per set rank first in MIVA play through the first weekend. Nate Flayter is fourth in the nation in assists per set with 10.82. Sam Hoskin (3.88), Tyler Tripp (3.60) and Bryce Wetjen (3.60) lead the offensive charge for McKendree, all averaging over 3.60 points per set. Hoskins won a MIVA Offensive Player of the Week award earlier this season (Jan. 27) and Tripp collected two consecutive MIVA Defensive Player of the Week awards (Jan. 20 and Jan. 27). Flayter also leads the defensive end of the floor for the Bearcats with a team-high 2.24 digs per set.

Series Histories
The Mastodons hold a narrow 15-13 series history lead over Lindenwood. The Lions took both meetings last season, Logan Muir had 12 and 20 kills in each meeting.

The 'Dons are 13-11 against McKendree through the programs histories. The Bearcats won all three contests last season, including a MIVA Quarterfinal victory.

Blocked By Fozzy!
Kaden Fosdick was selected as the MIVA's Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday (Feb.10). The junior aided the Mastodons to a 2-0 weekend and into a four match win streak. Fosdick rejected a total of 12 attacks against Northern Kentucky (Feb. 6) and Daemen (Feb. 8) for an average of 2.00 blocks per set, best in the MIVA for the week. The Wisconsin native had seven blocks and a dig during Purdue Fort Wayne's first MIVA victory over the Norse. Fosdick had another five blocks in the victory over the Wildcats.

'Dons This Season
The Mastodons are on a four match win streak after going 2-0 over the weekend, including a win in their first MIVA contest. The 'Dons are now 4-2 on the season, with wins over (RV) NJIT and No. 20 Charleston at home, while losing to No. 12 CSUN during the Under Armour Challenge. Purdue Fort Wayne is eighth in the nation in blocks per set with 2.56, led by Casey Lyons who is fifth nationally with 1.29. The Mastodons are also first in MIVA play for blocks per set with 3.83. Hunter Hopkins comes in at ninth in the nation for assists per set for 10.24. The 'Dons are first in MIVA play in limiting opponent's kills per set (8.33) and hitting percentage (.049). Carlo Huisden leads the MIVA in points per set during association play with 5.17. Kaden Fosdick rings up as first in the MIVA in blocks per set with 2.00 and second in the association in service aces per set, 1.00.

Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne took down Northern Kentucky in straight sets (25-12, 25-22, 25-17) on Friday night (Feb. 6) during the Mastodons' first MIVA match. Carlo Huisden led the match with 12 kills, to go along with five block assists and six digs. Hunter Hopkins finished with 29 assists. Owen Banner and Andrew Mayer each tallied five digs.

The Mastodons picked up their fourth straight win on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 8), beating Daemen in the 'Dons' fourth five-set match of the year (25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-7). Ethan Skalski ensured a Purdue Fort Wayne victory after putting away seven of the Mastodons' nine kills in the final set. Logan Muir led the match with 18 kills on a .533 percentage, with four aces and five block assists. Carlo Huisden finished with 14 kills on a .520 clip, along with seven digs. Hunter Hopkins assisted on 52 kills for the Mastodons. Raul Papaleo Jr. finished with a career-high six digs.

'Dons In Five
Purdue Fort Wayne is 3-1 this season in five-set matches, all at home, only losing the season opener to Missouri S&T. The Mastodons have beaten (RV) NJIT, Maryville and Daemen in the fifth set this year.

Preseason All-MIVA
Logan Muir was selected for the Preseason All-MIVA Team on December 15. Muir was named to the 2025 All-MIVA Second Team following last season. The Junior led the Mastodons in points (464.5), kills (391) and service aces (41) last year. He was second in the MIVA in kills per set (4.39), aces per set (0.41) and points per set (5.19) during conference play. Muir's 5.09 points per set ranked fifth in the nation. The California native also was 10th in the MIVA in hitting percentage with .299. Muir recorded double-digit kills in 19 of the 'Dons' 26 matches. He hit a career-high 23 kills in three sets at McKendree, the third most in the program's rally scoring era.

Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne tackles their first MIVA road trip, taking on Northern Kentucky for the first time in Highland Heights, Kentucky (Feb. 19) before heading to No. 11 Ohio State on Saturday (Feb. 21).

~ Feel the Rumble ~

Purdue Fort Wayne Hosts Ranked MIVA Opponents

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Players Mentioned

Owen Banner

Kaden Fosdick

Hunter Hopkins

Carlo Huisden

Casey Lyons

Andrew Mayer

Logan Muir

Raul Papaleo Jr.

Ethan Skalski

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics