2004 AVCA Division I-II Men's
Volleyball Previews
* Did not return preseason forms.
Ball State University (19-9, 11-5 MIVA)
2003 Final National Ranking: 13th; 2003 Postseason Finish: MIVA Tournament
Semifinals; 2003 Conference Finish: 3rd
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 4/13
Top Returners: Evan Berg (So., L/OH, 6-3); Andrew Braley (Jr., MB, 6-7); Zoran
Grabovac (So., MB, 6-8); Jary Delgado (Sr., OH, 6-1); Amitai Sasson (Sr., MB/OH,
6-5); Keith Schunzel (Sr., S, 6-3, All-MIVA 1st Team)
Top Newcomers: Patrick Durbin (Fr., OH, 6-6); Nick Meyer (Fr., OH, 6-8, 2003 USA
Youth National Team); Doug Willmann (Fr., MB, 6-8)
Top Players Lost: Matt Denmark (MB, All-MIVA 1st Team); Kyle Weindel (OH); Josh
Zuidema (OH, All-MIVA 2nd Team)
Brigham Young (23-7, 17-5 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: 2nd; 2003 Postseason Finish: NCAA Runnerup; 2003
Conference Finish: 2nd tie
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/10
Top Returners: Jon Alleman (Sr., OH/RS, 6-3, AVCA All-America 2nd Team); Carlos
Moreno (Jr., S, 6-4, AVCA All-America 2nd Team); Fernando Pessoa (Sr., OH/L,
6-4, All-MPSF honorable mention); Micahel Burke (Jr., MB, 6-8, All-MPSF
honorable mention); Chris Gorney (Sr., OH/MB, 6-6)
Top Newcomers: Matt Heyes (Fr., OH, 6-5); Enoc Cardona (Fr., OH/RS, 6-6); Aaron
Ferre (Fr., MB, 6-8)
Top Players Lost: Rafael Paal (MB, All-MPSF 3rd Team, All-NCAA Tournament)
California State-Northridge (18-12, 12-10 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: 9th; 2003 Postseason Finish: MPSF Tournament
Quarterfinals; 2003 Conference Finish: 5th tie
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/11
Top Returners: Doug English (Sr., L, 6-2, AVCA All-America 1st Team, All-MPSF
1st Team); Ty Tramblie (Sr., S, 6-0, All-MPSF 3rd Team); Nils Nielsen (Jr., OH,
6-4, All-MPSF honorable mention); Stan Douglas (Sr., MB, 6-6); Scott Arneson
(Sr., RS/Opp, 6-4)
Top Newcomers: Jeff Taylor (Jr., OH, 6-3); James Lischer (Fr., MB, 6-7); Dan
Rhodes (Fr., RS/Opp, 6-4)
Top Players Lost: Joe Nargi (RS/Opp, AVCA All-America 1st Team, All-MPSF 2nd
Team).
UC Irvine (20-11, 12-10 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: 5th; 2003 Postseason Finish: MPSF Tournament
Semifinals; 2003 Conference Finish: 5th-tie
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/9
Top Returners: Jimmy Pelzel (Sr., OH, 6-6, AVCA All-America 1st Team, All-MPSF
1st Team); Greg Ford (Sr., L, 6-2, All-MPSF 3rd Team); Kyle Weichert (Sr., MB,
6-7); Nic Vislay (So., MB, 6-4); Spencer Bemus (Sr., OH, 6-5)
Top Newcomers: Jason Jablonsky (Fr., OH, 6-5); Brett Reid (Fr., S, 6-3)
Top Players Lost: Monte Tucker (Sr., All-MPSF honorable mention); David Kniffin
(S); Jarett Jensen (OH)
UCLA (15-14, 10-12 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: 12th; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Conference
Finish: 9th
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 3/11
Top Returners: Jonathan Acosta (Jr., OH, 6-4, All-MPSF); Chris Pena (Sr., MB,
6-6, All-MPSF); Adam Shrader (Sr., L, 6-3, All-MPSF)
Top Newcomers: Steve Klosterman (Fr., RS/Opp, 6-7); Beau Peters (So., S, 6-5);
Julio "Gaby" Acevedo (Fr., S, 6-2)
Top Players Lost: Rich Nelson (S, All-MPSF); Scott Morrow (S, All-MPSF)
UC San Diego (6-22, 1-21 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Conference
Finish: 12th
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/10
Top Returners: Jim Waller (Sr., RS/Opp, 6-4, All-MPSF honorable mention); Adam
Toren (Jr., OH, 6-4); Kevin Keyser (Jr., MB, 6-4); Andy Rupp (Sr., MB, 6-5);
Jeff Urton (So., OH, 6-4)
Top Newcomers: Brooks Dierdorff (Fr., S, 6-2); Garrett Smith (Fr., MB, 6-6);
Drew Adams (Fr., RS/Opp, 6-5)
Top Players Lost: Chris Mortimer (L, All-MPSF honorable mention); Eric Perrine
(S)
UC Santa Barbara (10-20. 5-17 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR, 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Final
Conference Finish: 9th
Returning Starters/Letter winners: 8/10
Top Returnees: Justin Adams (Sr., MB, 6-6); Aaron Mansfield (Jr., L, 6-0, MPSF
honorable mention); Michael Kennedy (Jr., MB, 6-7); Dane Jensen (So., S, 6-5);
Bart Kowalski (Fr., S, 6-0); Nate Wack (Jr., OH, 6-5); Adam Ulfers (Jr., OH,
6-3)
Top Newcomers: Evan Patak (So., RS/Opp, 6-7); Kawika Burdine (So., OH, 6-2);
Jake Wiens (Fr., OH, 6-4)
Top Players Lost: JC Zegarra (OH); Keith Busam (OH)
* East Stroudsburg (8-15, 5-7 EIVA Hay)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Conference
Finish: 4th Hay
The University of Findlay (13-18, 4-13 MIVA)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Final
Conference Finish: 7th
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 4/10
Top Returners: Jeff Overfield (Sr., RS/OPP, 6-5, All-MIVA 2nd Team); Jim
Dziczkowski (So., OH, 6-0); Scott Monroe (Sr., L, 6-5)
Top Newcomers: Joey Rossetter (Fr., OH, 6-3)
Top Players Lost: Brent Mullins (L, All-MIVA 2nd Team)
George Mason (16-10, 11-3 EIVA Tait)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: EIVA Tournament
Runnerup; 2003 Final Conference Finish: 2nd Tait
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/6
Top Returners: Matt Steinfurth (So., MB, 6-7, All-EIVA 2nd Team); Brad Kniewel
(Sr., L, 6-1, All-EIVA 2nd Team); Dave Egan (Jr., S, 6-6, All-EIVA 1st Team);
Shaun Powell (Jr., OH/RS, 6-3); Felix Campos (Jr., OH, 6-3)
Top Newcomers: Graham Sheppard (Fr., OH, 6-4); Arturo Barreiro (Fr., OH, 6-2);
R.J. Goubeaux (Fr., MB, 6-9)
Top Players Lost: James Claney (MB, All-EIVA 1st TEam); Art Kulans (OH, All-EIVA
1st Team, Verizon Academic All-America At-Large First Team)
* Harvard University (10-5, 8-4 EIVA Hay) * Now in EIVA Sweeney
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Conference
Finish: 3rd Hay
University of Hawai'i (24-6, 17-5 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: 4th; 2003 Postseason Finish: MPSF Tournament
Semifinals; 2003 Final Conference Finish: 3rd
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 3/8
Top Returners: Kimo Tuyay (Sr., S, 6-2, All-MPSF honorable mention); Delano
Thomas (Jr., OH/MB, 6-7, AVCA All-American 1st Team, All-MPSF 2nd Team); Jake
Muise (Sr., L, 6-0)
Top Newcomers: Brian Beckwith (Fr., S, 6-6); Alfred Reft (So., L, 5-10)
Top Players Lost: Tony Ching (OH, AVCA All-America 1st Team, All-MPSF 2nd Team);
Eyal Zimet (OH, All-MPSF 3rd Team); Costas Theocharidis (OH, AVCA All-America
1st Team, AVCA Player of the Year, All-MPSF 1st Team, MPSF Player of the Year)
IPFW (15-10, 10-6 MIVA)
2003 Final National Rank: 14th; 2003 Postseason Finish: MIVA Tournament
Semifinals; 2003 Conference Finish: 5th
Starters Returning/Letterwinners: 4/8
Top Returners: Matt Zbyszewski (Sr., OH, 6-4, All-MIVA 2nd Team); Dennis
Santiago (Jr., S, 6-2); Serdar Sikca (So., MB, 6-8)
Top Newcomers: Cristiano Moreiro (Fr., OH, 6-4); Trevor Newman (Fr., MB, 6-8)
Top Player Lost: Jeff Ptak (OH, MIVA Player of the Year, AVCA All-American 2nd
Team)
* Lees-McRae (21-5, Independent)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Conference
Finish: Independent
Lewis University (29-5, 15-1 MIVA)
2003 Final National Ranking: 1st; 2003 Postseason Finish: NCAA Champion; 2003
Final Conference Finish: 1st
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 6/11
Top Returners: Gustavo Meyer (Jr., OH, 6-4, AVCA All-America 1st Team, NCAA
Tournament MOP); Fabiano Barreto (Sr., RS/Opp., 6-6, All-MIVA 1st Team, MIVA
Tournament MVP); Ryan Stuntz (Sr., L, 5-10, AVCA All-America 2nd Team, All-MIVA
1st Team); J.R. Martins (Sr., S, 6-4, AVCA All-America 2nd Team, All-MIVA 1st
Team)
Top Newcomers: Jon Bergmann (Fr., OH, 6-6); Jared Dayton (Fr., MB, 6-5)
Top Players Lost: Kevin Miller (MB)
Long Beach State (17-13, 11-11 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: 10th; 2003 Postseason Finish: MPSF Tournament 1st
Round; 2003 Conference Finish: 8th
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 6/12
Top Returners: Tyler Hildebrand (So., S, 6-4, 2003 AVCA Newcomer of the Year,
MPSF Freshman of the Year); Scott Touzinsky (Sr., OH, 6-7, All-MPSF 3rd Team);
David Lee (Sr., MB, 6-8 All-MPSF 2nd Team)
Top Newcomers: Justin May (Fr., OH, 6-5); Thiago Barbosa (Fr.-R, OH, 6-5)
Top Players Lost: None
Loyola University-Chicago (19-8, 13-3 MIVA)
2003 Final National Ranking: 11th; 2003 Postseason Finish: MIVA Tournament
Runnerup; 2003 Conference Finish: 2nd
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 3/10
Top Returners: Shawn Schroeder (Sr., MB, 6-9, All-MIVA 2nd Team); Mike Alesch
(Sr., OH, 6-3, MIVA All-Tournament)
Top Newcomers: Brian Guntli (Fr., S, 6-3); James Grunst (Fr., MB, 6-8)
Top Players Lost: Shane Davis (S, AVCA All-America, All-MIVA 1st Team, MIVA
All-Tournament); Justin Schnor (MB, All-MIVA 1st Team)
Mercyhurst College (9-20, 2-14 MIVA)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: MIVA Tournament
Quarterfinals; 2003 Conference Finish: 8th
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 6/13
Top Returners: Jim Ax (Sr., MB, 6-6); Dave Schmidl (Jr., RS/Opp, 6-6); Austin
Siewart (Jr., MB, 6-6); Bill VanCise (Jr., OH, 6-2); Justin Waas (So., OH, 6-4);
Dan Kick (So., S, 6-3)
Top Newcomers: Dennis Telaak (Fr., L, 5-9); Mike Palaschak (Fr., MB, 6-7)
* New Haven University (15-7, 6-2 EIVA Odeneal) * Now in EIVA Hay
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Conference
Finish: 2nd Odeneal
NJIT (5-19, 1-11 EIVA Hay) * Now in EIVA Sweeney
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Conference
Finish: 7th
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/6
Top Returners: Rob Miller (Sr., S, 6-2); Matt Thorkildsen (Jr., MB, 6-6); Ryan
Walsh (Sr., RS/Opp, 6-3)
Top Newcomers: Rob Tani (Fr., OH, 6-4)
Top Players Lost: Ron Horn (OH)
The Ohio State University (16-12, 11-5 MIVA)
2003 Final National Ranking: 15th; 2003 Postseason Finish: MIVA Tournament
Quarterfinals; 2003 Final Conference Finish: 3rd tie
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/11
Top Returners: Andy Cole (So., OH, 6-6, MIVA Freshman of the Year, All-MIVA 2nd
Team); Mark Peckham (Sr., S, 6-5, All-MIVA 2nd Team); Adam Pedersen (Sr., MH,
6-7); Scott Spurlock (Jr., MB, 6-10); Mike Wauligman (Jr., OH, 6-4); Richardo
Garcia (Jr., OH, 6-1)
Top Newcomers: Matthew Hankey (Fr., OH, 6-6); Dan Meske (Fr., L, 6-2); Joerel
Morales (Fr., S, 6-1); Brett Versen (Fr., OH, 6-5); Kevin Boehmer
(So., OH, 6-4)
Top Players Lost: Tom Trantow (OH, All-MIVA 1st Team)
University of the Pacific (18-14, 12-10 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: 8th; 2003 Postseason Finish: MPSF Tournament 1st
Round; 2003 Conference Finish: 5th -tie
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 3/12
Top Returners: Sean Rodgers (Sr., MB, 6-7, All-MPSF 3rd Team); Mike Gawlik (Jr.,
L, 6-0, All-MPSF honorable mention); Nils Dauburs (Jr., RS/Opp., 6-6, All-MPSF
honorable mention)
Top Newcomers: Mitch Hazelett (Fr., S, 6-5)
Top Players Lost: Chris Tamas (S, AVCA All-America 1st Team); Aaron Wachtfogel
(OH, All-MPSF honorable mention); Martin Bernsten (OH, All-MPSF honorable
mention)
Penn State University (26-6, 14-0 EIVA Tait)
2003 Final National Ranking: 6th-tie; 2003 Postseason Finish: NCAA Semifinals;
2003 Conference Finish: 1st
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 3/9
Top Returners: Ricky Mattei (Sr., L, 5-11, 2002 AVCA All-America 2nd Team); Dan
O'Dell (So., S, 6-7); Keith Kowal (Sr., MB, 6-5, AVCA All-America 2nd Team)
Top Newcomers: Kyle Masterson (Fr., MB, 6-6); Ryan Walthall (Fr., S, 6-2); Aaron
Smith (Fr., OH, 6-5); Alex Gutor (Fr., OH, 6-3); Phillip Small (Jr., MB, 6-11);
Andrew Price (So., OH, 6-5)
Top Players Lost: Carlos Guerra (OH, AVCA All-America 2nd Team); Zeljko Koljesar
(RS/Opp, 2002 AVCA All-America 2nd Team); Norm Keil (MB); Zach Slenker (MB, 2002
AVCA All-America 2nd Team); Alex Weaver (RS/Opp); Nate Matthews (S); Richard
Schneider (OH)
Pepperdine University (24-5, 19-3 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: 3rd; 2003 Postseason Finish: NCAA Semifinals; 2003
Conference Finish: 1st
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 4/9
Top Returners: Fred Winters (Sr., OH, 6-5, AVCA All-America 2nd Team); Sean
Rooney (Jr., OH, 6-9, two-time AVCA All-American); Andy Hein (So., MB, 6-11);
John Mayer (Jr., S, 6-2)
Top Newcomers: John Parfitt (Fr., MB, 6-7); Tanner Sutherland (Fr., OH, 6-2)
Top Players Lost: Brad Keenan (MB, four-time AVCA All-American)
* Princeton (16-11, 7-7 EIVA Tait)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: EIVA Tournament
Semifinals; 2003 Conference Finish: 5th
* Queens, N.Y. (14-12, 4-8 EIVA Hay)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Conference
Finish:
Quincy University (9-16, 5-11- MIVA)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: MIVA Quarterfinals;
2003 Final Conference Finish: 6th
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 6/8
Top Returners: Brian Turczynski (Sr., OH, 6-5); Branden Been (So.-R, MB, 6-7);
Nathan Boyd (Jr., OH, 6-6); Jon Moreno (Jr., OH, 6-4)
Top Newcomers: Robbie Mendenhall (Fr., S, 6-6); Ed Ryan (Fr., OH/MB, 6-5); Drew
Zabek (Fr., OH, 6-6)
Top Players Lost: Fernando Barretto (MB, 2003 All-MIVA 2nd Team)
Rutgers-Newark (15-12, 10-4 EIVA Tait)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Post-Season Finish: EIVA Tournament
Semifinals; 2003 Final Conference Finish: 3rd Tait
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/11
Top Returners: Aleks Ondelj (Sr., S, 6-4, All-EIVA 1st Team); Brian Honesberger
(So., OH, 6-4, All-EIVA 2nd Team); Ben Bostaph (Jr., MB, 6-10, All-EIVA 2nd
Team); Andrew Pink, Jr., OH, 6-4); Byron Goff (Jr., L/OH, 6-2); Henry
Richardston (So., MB, 6-7)
Top Newcomers: Carlos Aponte (Fr., S, 6-1)
Top Players Lost: Danko Iordanov (OH, All-EIVA 1st Team); Gio Gelpi (L)
Sacred Heart University (13-10, 4-8 EIVA Hay) * Now in EIVA Sweeney
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Final
Conference Finish: 5th tie
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 4/9
Top Returners: Doug Soviero (Sr., OH, 6-4); CJ Pickney (Sr., S, 6-1); Michael
Maziarz (Sr., L, 6-0); Mike Gardner (Jr., MB, 6-4); Alex Catani (So., MB/RS,
6-5)
Top Newcomers: Michael Ivers (So., OH, RS, 6-3)
Top Players Lost: Patrick Bihn (OH); Matthew Snyder (MB/RS)
Saint Francis University (7-18, 1-13 EIVA Tait)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Final
Conference Finish: 7th Tait
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 1/7
Top Returners: Chris Kennedy (Sr., S, 6-2); Steve Connell (Jr., MB, 6-5);
Brandon Kelly (Jr., OH, 6-4)
Top Newcomers: Marc Honore (Fr, MB, 6-6); Jeff Wiegers (Fr., S, 6-4); Zach Nanni
(Fr., OH, 6-0)
Top Players Lost: Taylor Whitehurst (MB); Matt Farabaugh (OH); Chad O'Brien (S);
Doug Wright (L); Chris Scrabis (OH)
USC (6-25, 2-20 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: NA; 2003 Conference
Finish: 11th
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 5/7
Top Returners: Joao Grangeiro (So., L/OH, 6-2, All-MPSF 2nd Team); Ian Gallagher
(Sr., RS/Opp, 6-6)
Top Newcomers: Gio Altamura (Fr.-R, S, 6-0); Fernando Barron (Fr., OH/S, 6-3);
Matt Mosko (Fr., MB, 6-6); Matt Anderson (Fr., OH, 6-4)
Top Players Lost: Mark Dusharme (OH, 2003 All-MPSF honorable mention); Miles
McGann (S); Josh Day (MB)
* Southampton (21-11, 8-0 EIVA Odeneal) * Now in EIVA Hay
2003 Final National Ranking: NR; 2003 Postseason Finish: EIVA Tournament Play-In
Round; 2003 Conference Finish: 1st Odeneal
Stanford University (17-12, 14-8 MPSF)
2003 Final National Ranking: 6th-tie; 2003 Postseason Finish: MPSF Tournament
Quarterfinals; 2003 Conference Finish: 4th
Returning Starters/Letterwinners: 3/9
Top Newcomers: Kevin Hansen (Jr.-R, S, 6-5, two-time All-MPSF honorable mention)
Top Newcomers: Josh Schwarzapel (Fr., OH, 6-5), Brian Lindberg (Fr., L, 6-0),
Eric Jones (Fr., 6-7, MB/OH)
Top Players Lost: Curt Toppel (RS/Opp, two-time AVCA All-American, four-time
All-MPSF); Paul Bocage (MB, All-MPSF Honorable Mention), William Strickland (OH,
two-time All-MPSF Honorable Mention) |
