GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team will travel to Virginia for a tri-match featuring a pair of highly-touted NCAA Division III programs on Saturday (Feb. 26). Hosted by Randolph-Macon, the Pioneers will face No. 8 Southern Virginia at 2 p.m. and the receiving votes Yellow Jackets at 4 p.m.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Tusculum (3-7) have won two in a row, taking down Fort Valley State in three sets and Emmanuel in a five-set thriller.
Shaphar Grant earned Off the Block Defensive Player of the Night honors for his record-breaking performance against the Lions. Against Emmanuel, the junior middle blocker collected 12 total blocks (one solo, 11 assists), shattering the previous program record. Grant's effort at the net is the most this season across NCAA I-II. The Kingston, Jamaica native also tied his career-high in kills with 12 on a .500 hitting percentage. As a team, Tusculum was credited with a program-best 15 blocks in its first-ever win over the Lions.
On the season, Jake Whyte has tallied 103 kills, nearly three per set. Shaun Kampshoff has dished out 282 assists, just under eight per frame. He also has dominated the service ace category for TU with 21. The dig column has five Pioneers within a 10-dig span: Dane Loup (47), Kampshoff (44), Colby Landry (42), Taylor West (38), and Whyte (38). Grant leads at the net with 34 total blocks (seven solo, 27 assists). Kampshoff (23), Deklan Wingo (21), and Whyte (19) have also reached double-digits in the defensive category.
Nationally, Tusculum ranks 11th in opponent hitting percentage at .205. Individually, Kampshoff is ninth in aces per set (.583), Whyte is 23rd in attacks per set (7.83), and Grant is 24th in blocks per set (.944).
LOOKING AHEAD
Southern Virginia (9-1) is ranked eighth in the latest DIII poll after running its winning streak to seven. The Knights' Nahuel Recabarren leads the charge with 128 kills (4.41 per set) on a .316 clip. His kills per frame rate ranks fifth in DIII. Kaipo Tagaloa has dished out 215 assists, followed by 103 from Tyler Sheaffer. Wayne Baldwin has landed the most aces with 10, while Jeffrey Tomlinson heads up the defense with 48 digs. At the net, Kristo Bianchin Puente is credited with 19 total blocks (one solo, 18 assists) and McKay Walker is just behind with 17 (six solo, 11 assists).
Randolph-Macon (9-2) was ranked 15th in the same poll last week, but dropped out after falling to two ranked conference opponents. Drew Klein has 120 kills in only eight matches this season. He is firing on a .305 hitting percentage and his kills per set average of 4.00 is 10th nationally. Cade Terrell has handed out 331 assists, nearly nine per set. Klein also leads the Yellow Jackets with 10 aces and has the second-most digs with 55. Just ahead of him in the defensive category is John Saxman with 64 digs. Sean Cunningham is averaging over a block per frame for a total of 43 (seven solo, 36 assists). His 1.075 stuff per set rate is 10th across DIII.
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.