GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team begins its sixth year of competition by making its California debut at the ASICS Invitational (Jan. 9-11), hosted by UC Santa Barbara. The Pioneers make their first appearance in Greeneville on January 21 against Quincy as part of the 28-match regular season slate in 2025.
First-year head coach Alberto Chiaparini has 16 players on his inaugural roster, composed of eight returners, seven freshmen, and one transfer.
THIS WEEK
For the first time in program history, a Tusculum men's volleyball match will be played in California as the Pioneers compete in the UCSB ASICS Invitational from January 9-11 on the campus of UC Santa Barbara. TU is scheduled to face California State University Northridge (CSUN), University of California, Irvine (UCI), and University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). All three teams are ranked in preseason top-20 at Nos. 15, 3, and 16, respectively.
The Matadors went 13-16 overall in 2024, beating four nationally-ranked teams along the way, including the Nos. 2 and 3 in consecutive matches. CSUN reached the Big West semifinals for the first time since 2018, falling to the eventual national runner-up Long Beach State. CSUN returns Jalen Phillips, a freshman All-American, and Donovan Constable, an AVCA honorable mention All-American.
The Anteaters were 20-11 last season, ending their campaign in the national semifinals at the hands of the eventual champion. UCI returns the reigning national Player of the Year in Hilir Henno, who led the country in points per set and ranked second in kills per set. The Anteaters also have the 2023 NAIA Player of the Year on the roster, Nolan Flexen.
The Gauchos finished 9-18 overall in 2024, falling in the Big West quarterfinals. UCSB totaled four top-20 wins amongst them. The Gauchos are returning Geste Bianchi (AVCA honorable mention) and two conference All-Freshman team members: Patrick Kane and Josh Aruya.
MEET THE TEAM
The eight returnees are led by the two upperclassmen: Deklan Wingo and Taylor West.
Wingo (Chester, Va.) had a dominant junior year in 2024, earning Off the Block All-America second team, IVA Offensive Player of the Year, All-IVA first team, and IVA All-Tournament Team honors. The outside hitter played in 107 sets across 31 matches, missing just one frame over the entirety of the campaign. Wingo upped the single-season marks in kills (371), attempts (874), attempts per set (8.17), and digs (150), while his total in kills per set (3.47) and digs per set (1.40) are second-best. He also added 20 assists, 16 service aces, and 33 total blocks. Wingo also set a new career-high with 24 kills as part of a program-record 53 attempt outing against Thomas More. He reached double figures in kills across 22 matches, with at least three kills in every contest throughout 2024. Wingo's name is scattered through the TU career records. He leads the kills per set (2.70) and points per set (3.19) categories and is second in kills (723), attempts (1680), attempts per set (6.27), hitting percentage (.221), solo blocks (34), block assists (89), total blocks (123), and points (855.5).
West (Colorado Springs, Colo.) is the program's leader in digs (469) and digs per set (1.38), while ranking second in sets played (341) and matches (98). The libero played in a career-high 102 sets last season, appearing in 30 contests. He totaled one kill, a collegiate-best 47 assists, and 134 digs (tied fourth-most in a TU season). West recorded at least two digs in every match played, including a career-high 15.
Tusculum retains six freshmen from last season: Kevin Blankenship, Joel Dubinsky, Nick Hale, Morgan Makovec, Donovan Nye, and Adam Svendsen.
Blankenship (Franklin, Tenn.) played in 19 sets across six matches before redshirting. In his limited action as a right side hitter, he totaled 31 kills, one assist, 31 digs, and nine blocks. Blankenship notched at least two kills in every appearance and was credited with a block in 5-of-6 matches. After his debut weekend, he earned IVA Defensive Player of the Week. Blankenship's match-highs include 10 kills, nine digs, and four block assists.
Dubinsky (University Place, Wash.) played in 28 sets across 15 matches, seeing more action toward the end of the season. The outside hitter totaled 29 kills, one assist, one ace, and 15 digs. In the bronze match in the IVA Tournament, Dubinsky had season-highs of 12 kills and four digs.
Hale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) appeared in a match at Hawai'i in his lone action last season. He was credited with an attack attempt as a middle blocker.
Makovec (Virginia Beach, Va.) has already made his mark in the TU career records after just one season. He sits second in blocks per set (0.60), four in solo blocks (20), and sixth in total blocks (62). Makovec's block total is also third-most for a single-season while his.288 hitting percentage is fifth-best for a campaign. The middle blocker played in all 31 matches as a freshman, notching 148 kills, four assists, 13 aces, and 27 digs as well. He was named IVA Player of the Week twice, once for offense and once for defense. Makovec recorded at least one kill in 29 matches and a block in 26 contests. He had match-highs of 13 kills, two assists, two aces, three digs, and five rejections.
Nye (Winder, Ga.) saw action in 49 sets across 19 matches in 2024. The right side hitter recorded 37 kills, two assists, four aces, 33 digs, and 20 total blocks. Nye finished with at least one kill in 14 contests, with match-highs of five kills, seven digs, and five block assists.
Svendsen (Harrison, Tenn.) played in 30 sets across 12 matches, totaling 65 kills, three assists, two aces, 38 digs, and 16 blocks. The outside hitter recorded at least a pair of kills in 11-of-12 matches played and a minimum of one dig in 10 contests. Svendsen had match-highs of 12 kills, two assists, 15 digs, and four block assists.
The lone transfer on the squad is Patrick Gresham.
Gresham (Chesapeake, Va.), a 5-9 libero, played the 2024 at Virginia Wesleyan. The Western Branch High School graduate played in 46 sets across 16 matches for the Marlins. Gresham totaled 22 assists and 59 digs, with match-highs of four and 10, respectively.
Seven collegiate newcomers round out the 2025 squad for Chiaparini.
Caleb Hammann (Farragut, Tenn.) is a 6-8 graduate of Knoxville Christian School. The middle blocker was a three-sport athlete for the Knights, playing basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Hammann was a member of the 2022 national tournament championship basketball team, a 2024 all-region selection in volleyball, and his class valedictorian. He also played for K2 in club volleyball.
Ty Keeble (Maryville, Tenn.) is a 5-10 libero, graduating from Heritage High School. He earned volleyball most valuable player and was on the 2022 all-tournament basketball team for the Mountaineers. Keeble played alongside Hammann on the K2 club team.
Reef Mathis (Saint Johns, Fla.) is a 6-6 outside hitter, lettering in volleyball and golf at Bartram Trail High School. He saw action in 80 sets with 247 kills for the Bears. Mathis also played for JJVA in the club realm.
Tyler Morrison (Alabaster, Ala.) graduated from Thompson High School. The 6-4 middle blocker played for C2 Attack, winning the 16u USAV national championship in 2022. Morrison was also a member of the 17u AAU third place team in 2023.
Aiden Roper (Acworth, Ga.) graduated from Allatoona High School. The 6-2 outside hitter won back-to-back state championships and was a member of the 2024 SRVA team. Roper also played for A5 in club volleyball.
Kai Williams (Youngsville, N.C.) is listed as a 5-10 outside hitter/libero. At Franklinton High School, he played tennis, football, and track, racking up honors, including a two-time all-conference performer. Williams played for Triangle Volleyball Club, finishing second at nationals in 2023.
Riley Wisniakowski (Pensacola, Fla.) is a 6-1 setter, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School. He played for C2 Attack Volleyball Club with Morrison.
