GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team will look to defend Pioneer Arena twice this weekend, both against Independent Volleyball Association (IVA) foes. Friday (Feb. 11) night will feature Limestone, while Queens is set for Saturday (Feb. 12) afternoon.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Tusculum (1-5, 1-0 IVA) played four matches last week, including a pair to begin the five-match home stand.
In the IVA opener versus Alderson Broaddus, numerous personal and program marks fell. Shaun Kampshoff shattered the program record for aces in a match with seven, which included five in the first set alone. He was one shy of tying the four-set assist mark with his 40 offerings. Shaphar Grant now holds the four-set match record for blocks with six total (one solo, five assists), a personal best. Dane Loup upped his career mark in kills to 13 as well, on a fiery .308 clip. Jake Whyte tied his career high four total blocks at the net (four assists).
On the season, Whyte leads TU with 58 kills, followed by Loup (42), Colby Landry (36), and Grant (32). Kampshoff has dished out 172 assists and collected half of Tusculum's service aces with 15. Loup has scooped up 32 digs, just ahead of four Pioneers: Landry (28), Kampshoff (26), Whyte (26), and Taylor West (20). Grant heads up the front row defense, totaling 15 blocks (three solo, 12 assists). Deklan Wingo (13), Kampshoff (10), and Whyte (10) have reached double-figures as well.
LOOKING AHEAD
Limestone (7-2, 0-0 IVA) will be coming up to Tennessee fresh off of its second loss of the season. Albert Warzocha leads the Saints with 94 kills for a 3.36 per set average. He is firing on a .385 hitting percentage. Just behind is Geraldo Rivera with 93 kills on a 3.32 per frame rate. Paul Stommel is averaging just over 10 assists per set, totaling 363 for the season. Warzocha is the lone Saint to reach double-digit aces with 23. Limestone has three players with at least 40 digs: Warzocha (42), Stommel (42), and Joel Romero (40). Veit Bils is credited with 44 total blocks (two solo, 42 assists), doubling Stommel's 22 (one solo, 21 assists).
Queens (5-4, 1-0 IVA) is set to face nationally-ranked Lincoln Memorial the night before taking on the Pioneers. Jack Brinkman (96) and Daniel Leitao (86) are the offensive leaders for the Royals, with the latter hitting .341. Brandon Grabow has assisted on 236 kills, while Brinkman is credited with a team-high 11 aces. Defensively, Leitao has the most digs for Queens by a large margin with his 70. At the net, JP Payne has participated in 35 blocks (three solo, 32 assists), nearly twice as many as the closest teammate.
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Tusculum is mandating all spectators to wear masks and/or face coverings during indoor events. Seating capacity is limited to 50%.
