GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The second season of men's volleyball at Tusculum University opens up with three out-of-state matches, beginning January 14.
TU head coach Eddie Pennington's team will play 23 matches, 13 within Pioneer Arena, culminating at the Independent Volleyball Association (IVA) Championship in mid-April.
Looking to build off of the program's inaugural 5-14 (3-2 IVA) record, this year's roster consists of 15 student-athletes: nine returners, five freshmen, and one transfer.
THIS WEEK
North Greenville is set to host the Pioneers as each team's season-opener on Thursday (Jan. 14). The Crusaders finished 10-9 overall and 4-4 in Conference Carolinas action before the 2020 was abruptly ended due to the coronavirus pandemic. NGU beat Tusculum 3-1 in the lone meeting last season and was recently picked to finish fifth in its conference preseason poll. Per the North Greenville athletic department, only participating teams and essential personnel will be allowed inside Hayes Gymnasium for the contest.
Lourdes and Campbellsville are the other teams participating in a Tusculum double-header on Saturday (Jan. 16), hosted by the latter. The Gray Wolves and Tigers will face off Friday night. Both were ranked in the AVCA NAIA top-10 poll at season's end, at seventh and second, respectively.
Lourdes opens 2021 against the Tigers, coming off of a 17-4 overall mark. Campbellsville split its two-match Indiana swing ahead its weekend at home. The Tigers were 23-2, winning 11 consecutive, to earn three first-place votes in the last poll.
MEET THE TEAM
The Tusculum men's volleyball roster has international representation from Jamaica, alongside players from Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Arthur Amorim played in 51 sets across all 19 matches, starting in 16. The Atlanta, Ga. native finished the season with 46 kills on 107 attempts for a .234 hitting percentage. Amorim also added 10 digs, six service aces, five assists, and tied the team-high of 29 total blocks. The junior middle blocker registered a season-high eight kills on a .583 clip in the program's first-ever win and he tied his career-high five total blocks at Belmont Abbey. Academically, Amorim earned Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award honors.
Lucas Blanco played in all 19 matches with 17 starts as the primary setter, missing only three sets all season. The Miami, Fla. sophomore compiled a team-high 441 assists, 61 digs, 23 kills, 16 block assists, and nine aces. His 7.41 assists per set ratio ranked 33rd across the NCAA, aided by 51 assists in a five-set win at Urbana. Blanco notched double-digit assists in 18-of-19 matches and at least 20 in 12 matches.
Sophomore Shaphar Grant played in 51 sets throughout 17 matches, including 14 starts. The middle blocker from Kingston, Jamaica finished the season with 34 kills, 29 total blocks (tied for most on the squad), 16 digs, eight aces, and three assists. Grant's season-best five kills were on the road at Urbana, and went 4-for-4 on swings at Indiana Tech the day before. Defensively, he is credited with five total blocks against Lincoln Memorial.
Tom Kait, a sophomore, saw action in 24 sets across 10 matches, including five starts. The Edgewater, Md. resident totaled 30 kills, 17 digs, three block assists, two assists, and one ace on the season. His top-two offensive outputs came 10 day apart in February, seven kills and six kills, respectively. The outside/right side hitter also had match-highs of five digs and two block assists.
Shaun Kampshoff, a right side hitter from Las Vegas, Nev., participated in 45 sets over the course of 18 matches and 11 starts. The junior totaled 125 kills (second on the team), 51 digs, 27 blocks, 12 aces (second on the team), and 11 assists. Kampshoff's career-high 19 kills were fired on a .417 clip, as one of seven matches reaching double figures. His collegiate-best 10 digs came against a nationally-ranked NAIA Saint Xavier team as part of a double-double (11 kills). In the classroom, Kampshoff collected the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award.
Jacob Rambo, a sophomore from nearby Jonesborough, Tenn., was predominately used in a serving capacity. The libero played in seven sets across five matches and recorded an ace on Valentine's Day.
Mackenzie Scott, an outside hitter from Chester, Va., started seven matches and played in 16 overall. The sophomore was third on the team with 51 kills, adding 27 digs. He also contributed seven aces, assists, and total blocks. Scott's best match was at Lees-McRae in which he landed a season-best 10 kills, six digs, and three assists.
Peter Stewart, a graduate student from Casselberry, Fla., played in 15 matches and 41 sets in 2020. The libero is credited with 61 digs (tied second on the team), 29 assists, two aces, and two kills. His career-best 13 digs were at Urbana, good for second-most in program history, while he had a season-high of eight assists at Lindenwood. Stewart was named to the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award list for his academic efforts.
Sophomore Hunter Walck saw action in 50 across 18 matches, including 13 starts. The outside hitter from Chesapeake, Va., finished last season with 47 kills, 35 digs, 12 assists, nine block assists, and six service aces. Walck registered five kills in three matches and added a pair of assists in three others. Some additional match-highs include six digs and three block assists.
Six newcomers will be looking to make an impact for the Pioneers this season: Caleb Slater, Reese DeElena, Colby Landry, Dane Loup, Taylor Phillips, and Jack Wozniak.
Slater, the lone transfer for the Pioneers, spent one season at Erskine. The middle blocker started 13-of-14 matches for the Flying Fleet, totaling 55 kills on a .286 clip, 15 aces, 14 total blocks, seven digs, and four assists across 41 sets. Match-highs for the Chesapeake, Va. native include eight kills, three aces, two digs, two assists, and two total blocks.
DeElena, a Cedar Park, Texas native, graduated from Round Rock High School and played for the San Antonio Tribe club team. The setter plans to major in business management at Tusculum.
Landry and Loup have history with both playing for the Bayou Boys LA (18s) in their native Louisiana. The pair finished second at the 2019 AAU nationals, third at the USA nationals, and bronze at the 2020 Chicago Winter Boy's Volleyball Championship. Landry hails from Belle Rose, La. and lettered three years for the tennis team at Assumption High School. On the court, he was a two-time first team All-League in doubles and 2019 Division 2 Region 4 champion. The outside hitter served as team manager for the girl's volleyball squad, who won the 2018 district championship, as well. Landry intends to major in sport management.
Meanwhile, Loup, a product of Mandeville, La. and Archbishop Hannan High School, managed the girl's volleyball team during his career. The outside hitter was ranked No. 28 in the state alongside his club accolades. Loup's declared major is computer science.
Phillips lettered in volleyball at Coronado High School and was named to the 2019 All-State first team. The Colorado Springs, Colo. libero also played for the Front Range (Colo.) club team. Phillips is coming in as a criminal justice major. Wozniak graduated from Glenbard East High School in his hometown of Lombard, Ill. He lettered three seasons as a middle blocker, racking up two conference championships and an all-league nod. Wozniak also traveled with the Future (Ill.) club team and he plans to major in business management at TU.
