ROLLA, Mo. - The Missouri S&T men's volleyball team is about to begin history, opening its first season of men's volleyball with contests against 12th-ranked Loyola Chicago on Jan 9 at 6 p.m. and 14th-ranked Lewis University the following evening.
 
With the sport of men's volleyball growing in collegiate athletics, the Miners' first roster is constructed with 16 freshmen and two sophomores looking to provide a new excitement to the campus of Missouri S&T with being the first class to play in the green and gold. In S&T's inaugural season, the Miners will compete as an independent.

S&T's first roster consists of three middle blockers, led by Caleb Rohlwing (Barrington, Ill./Barrington), Grogan Kraus (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North) and Ryan Sword (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson), a half-dozen outside hitters in Jared Byas (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East), Auston Obsuth (St. Augustine, Fla./Allen D. Nease), Adam Kokal (St. Louis, MO/Parkway Central), Nate Meyer (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey), Zachary Carff (O'Fallon, Mo./St. Dominic) and Josh Duett (Grain Valley, Mo./Grain Valley) and three opposite side hitters in Jacob Williams (Fenton, Mo./Fox), Aaron Sallade (Palatine, Ill./William Fremd) and Jonathan Piggot (Roundlake, Ill./Grayslake Central).  The Miners will also gain the services of middle blocker Andrew Young (Ballwin, MO/Marquette) later in the season as he is currently playing on the S&T men's basketball team.

In addition, the Miners have two setters on the roster in Jordan Orr (Eureka, Mo./Eureka), Brayden Kuruzovich (State College, Penn./State College Area School District) and two liberos in Owen Price (Bay Shore, New York/Bay Shore), Andres Hernandez (Bedford, Texas/Trinity), while Byas could also play in the libero role.

ABOUT LOYOLA CHICAGO: The Ramblers (0-0) enter this season coming off an 18-9 overall record and a 11-3 mark in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, where Purdue Fort Wayne was able to defeat the Ramblers in the second round of the MIVA tournament in straight sets last season. For the 2023 season, the Ramblers were placed 12th in the preseason NVA/AVCA Men's Division I-II coaches poll and second in the MIVA Preseason Poll with 54 points. Cole Schlothauer and Parker Van Buren, Loyola's top returning players, were both named to the 2023 preseason All-MIVA Team.  
 
ABOUT LEWIS: The Flyers (0-0) enter this season coming off an 16-12 overall record and a 7-7 MIVA record; Lewis defeated Ohio State in five sets before ultimately being eliminated in three sets to Ball State in the second round of the MIVA tournament. For the 2023 season, Lewis was placed 14th in the Preseason NVA/AVCA Men's Division I-II Coaches Poll and fourth in the MIVA Preseason Poll with 44 points. This season, Kevin Kauling and Max Roquet were both named to the 2023 preseason All-MIVA Team.
 
Missouri S&T will compete against seven of the eight MIVA teams where Loyola Chicago, Ohio State and Lewis are ranked 12th,13th and 14th respectively while Purdue Fort Wayne received two votes. 

Message from our Coaching Staff:

Head Coach Andy Halaz: "The biggest thing that sets us apart is our youth, we will be rolling out 18 year olds where other teams have covid fifth year players and redshirts that are 23-24 years old."

Assistant Coach Ryan Thompson: "After a year and a half of building from scratch with recruiting and other aspects, we are excited to get out there and compete to see how much our hard work is paying off."
 
Following the two matches early next week, the Miners will play their home opener on Jan 14 against Kentucky State at 1 p.m. in Gibson Arena.