Kingsmen Set and Ready for 2018

Posted: Jan 05, 2018

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The California Lutheran University men's volleyball team looks to build on the past two seasons as the Kingsmen start the program's third year under head coach Kevin Judd.

The season is highlighted by trips to Rochester, N.Y., and Boston, Mass., as well as the team's own Cal-Lu-Fornia Classic. The schedule also features two games against Division I opponents, Pepperdine and Cal State University Northridge.

As the program enters its third year, Judd is very excited and said the team continues to get better. "Guys are working hard," said Judd. "They're getting in their reps, staying positive, pushing themselves and it's just a matter of staying healthy.

"We've got a fluid dynamic right now, with a lot of guys that can push each other. They can change the outlook of this team very quickly."

The foundation has been set with the young guys, and they get some leadership from the upper classmen. The Kingsmen have a super-senior in Michael Campbell. The 6-6 middle blocker has been with the program since day one and has played in 50 matches for the Violet and Gold. He is the program's leader in blocks for a career with 164. He tallied 86 blocks in his first year with CLU and 78 in his second.

The junior class is made up of one returner and three transfers. Brendan Ward is back for the Kingsmen. The outside hitter is 6-5 and looking for a bigger role in 2018. Joining him are Bradley McCallister (Pacific Palisades, Calif.), Chandler Matteson (San Diego, Calif.) and Jacob Sosa (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). McCallister is an outside hitter and defensive specialist. At Santa Monica College, he helped the team to two Final Four appearances in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA). Matteson is an opposite hitter and played his past two years at Palomar College. Sosa played two years at Moorpark College and led his squad to a league championship in 2017.

The sophomore class has the most people playing for the Kingsmen. They are looking to make an even bigger impact this year as they continue to get use to Judd's system. The class includes nine returners and two transfers. Back for their second season are Alec Bennett, Nick Christy, Justin Dietrich, Kelly Jew, Andrew McFarlane, Mason Mercer, Tony Moreno, Grant Nelson and Patrick Rowe. The transfers are Mateusz Plewa (Chicago, Ill.) and Andrew Reina (Orange, Calif.).

Rowe, an outside hitter, led the team in kills last year, tallying 279 and averaging 3.13 kills per set. He added 22 service aces, 109 digs and 32 total blocks. He recorded two double-doubles last year in kills and digs. Dietrich is a middle blocker for the Kingsmen and was second on the team with 59 total blocks. He contributed offensively with 102 kills. Mercer had the fourth-most kills on the team with 106 and will look for an expanded role in 2018. Nelson tallied 103 assists last season and looks to be the main setter this year.

Rounding out the squad is the freshmen class, William Brendel (Pleasanton, Calif.) and Marc Quezada (Arlington Heights, Ill.). Brendel is a 6-foot-8 middle blocker who also played football and basketball in high school. Quezada is a defensive specialist and libero. He played all four years at Rolling Meadows High School and was named to the Mid Suburban All-League First Team twice.

The Kingsmen open the 2018 season this Sunday, as the team travels to Malibu, Calif., to take on Division I opponent, Pepperdine, at 5 p.m.