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Men’s Volleyball Sets Sight on Season Opener

Titans look to open fourth collegiate season

1/19/2024 2:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's volleyball team will begin its fourth collegiate season on the road, heading to Plymouth, Wis., for two matches Sunday, Jan. 21. The Titans will open the season against University of Olivet at 3 p.m. before taking on the host, Lakeland University, to close the night, with action set to begin at 5 p.m.

Illinois Wesleyan will boast a roster with all four classes for the first time in program history, with nine seniors leading the charge. Head Coach Brandon Mueller returns 15 letterwinners from last year's squad that won a program-best 11 matches and welcomes five newcomers. Sunday's contest will see freshmen Patrick Dasbach (Lombard, Ill.-Willowbrook), Kevin Ledgerwood (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove), Ethan Keutzer (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis University High), Bryce Williams (Chicago, Ill.-Whitney M. Young), and Brenden Reutter (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) make their collegiate debuts.

Having led the Titan offense all three seasons, senior Michael Eastman (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Ignatius) returns after recording 232 kills, an average of 2.86 per set, and 30 aces in the 2023 campaign, all of which led the team. Senior Julian Perez (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg) and junior Ryan Myers (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.-Stevenson) each posted 140 kills, tied for second-most on the squad.

Junior Vince DiCosola (Aurora, Ill.-Oswego West) looks to build off a breakthrough sophomore campaign in which he earned the team's "Most Valuable Player" award. DiCosola led the Green and White with 435 assists, averaging 5.30 per set, and added a team-best 130 digs. The Aurora, Ill. native earned College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Setter of the Week honors last April.

Senior Javier Romano (Prospect Heights, Ill.-Wheeling), junior Jake Kougan (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East), and Perez return as Illinois Wesleyan's top net defense from last season. Romano led the team with 41 total blocks, earning the team's "Brick Wall" award, while Kougan and Perez closely followed with 40 and 39 rejections, respectively.

Sunday will mark the first time the Titans will meet either team on the court. Lakeland (0-1) opened its season against CCIW foe Carthage College Tuesday, Jan. 16, falling in four sets, before recently dropping a five-set match against University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Thursday, Jan. 18, in UWSP's inaugural match. A live stream of the matches, along with live stats can be found by clicking here.

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