Mastodon MVB Welcomes NKU and Daemen

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne men's volleyball program will play host to MIVA newcomer Northern Kentucky on Friday (Feb. 6) and Daemen on Sunday (Feb. 8), along with a neutral site match between the Norse and Wildcats on Saturday (Feb. 7).

Game Day Information
Who: Northern Kentucky
When: Friday, February 6 | 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: Northern Kentucky vs. Daemen
When: Saturday, February 7 | 6 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Watch: Link
Live Stats: Link

Game Day Information
Who: Daemen
When: Sunday, February 8 | 1 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Watch: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: MIVA | Purdue Fort Wayne

Know Your Foes
Northern Kentucky enters the week at 1-3 and will play in their first MIVA match on Thursday (Feb. 5) against Ohio State before seeing the Mastodons on Friday (Feb. 6). The Norse collected their first win as a program over Thomas More earlier this season. Will McElveen leads Northern Kentucky on the offensive side of the floor with 3.31 points per set and 3.08 kills per set. The Norse have three players averaging over 2.00 digs per set: Trace Klausing (2.38), Juanmarco Diaz (2.13) and Griffin Wheatley. Freshman Nick Whitley and grad student Kyle Saurer have split reps at the setter position through the year.

Daemen is 2-5 on the season, picking up two wins over Roberts Wesleyan and losing to their two ranked opponents: No. 10 UC San Diego and No. 4 Pepperdine. Patrick Mullen leads the Wildcats' offense with 4.42 points per set and 3.81 kills per set. Jariel Giraud has ran the Daemen offense from the setter position, averaging 7.54.

Series Histories
The 2026 season is Northern Kentucky's men's volleyball's first year as a program.

The 'Dons are 1-0 against Daemen, beating them in five-set 2022 contest.

'Dons This Season
The Mastodons are on a two match win streak and are 4-2 before their first MIVA contest. The 'Dons have wins over (RV) NJIT and No. 20 Charleston at home, while losing to No. 12 CSUN during the Under Armour Challenge. Casey Lyons stands tall on the Purdue Fort Wayne defense with the nation's seventh best blocks per set average, at 1.26 this season. Hunter Hopkins continues to lead the Mastodon offense, the nation's 10th best assist per set average at 10.27. The trio of Owen Banner (4.27 pps, 3.46 kps), Ethan Skalski (4.11 pps, 3.00 kps) and Logan Muir (3.76 pps, 3.29 kps) led the 'Dons offensively, all averaging over 3.75 points per set and 3.00 kills per set. Andrew Mayer has averaged 1.92 digs per set as the defensive specialist.

Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne notched their first ranked win of the season, beating No. 20 Charleston in four sets (25-21, 22-25, 25-13, 25-19) on Thursday (Jan. 22). Owen Banner finished the match with a career high five service aces, along with 16 kills. Ethan Skalski finished his first game as a Mastodon with 11 kills, six block assists, two service aces and three digs. Hunter Hopkins recorded 42 assists. Andrew Mayer led the 'Dons will 11 digs.

The Mastodons beat Maryville in five sets (25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10) on Friday (Jan. 23). Ethan Skalski led Purdue Fort Wayne with 16 kills and three service aces, going along with six digs and four block assists. Owen Banner notched 15 kills. Carlo Huisden and Andrew Mayer both finished with eight digs. Kaden Fosdick had eight block assists in the contest.

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 will dive headfirst into MIVA competition, hosting No. 18 Lindenwood (Feb.12) and No. 11 McKendree (Feb. 13).

~ Feel the Rumble ~

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Players Mentioned

Owen Banner

Kaden Fosdick

Hunter Hopkins

Carlo Huisden

Casey Lyons

Andrew Mayer

Logan Muir

Ethan Skalski

Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics