By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant Paige Phillips '23

BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball team hosted the 2023 BW Invitational in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center. BW (5-0) defeated Marian (Wis.) University, Hilbert (N.Y.) College, St. Norbert (Wis.) College, and Loras (Iowa) College to go 4-0 on the weekend and win its own BW Invitational.

BW vs. Marian (1-1)

The Yellow Jackets (3-0) defeated Marian University (1-1) in straight sets by 26-24, 32-30, and 25-23. BW was led by sophomore right side hitter Carson Junker (Massillon/Jackson) as he recorded 15 kills and four digs. Sophomore All-Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League outside hitter Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby) added 11 kills, seven digs, and two assists.

BW trailed in set one to Marian before grabbing the win 26-24 on a service aced by Junker. The Yellow Jackets controlled much of set two and three with set-ending kills from sophomore right side hitter Michael Devlin (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) and Junker.

BW vs. Hilbert (0-2)

BW defeated Hilbert College in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-23, and 25-11. The Yellow Jackets were led by sophomore outside hitter Carson Owens (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) who tallied 13 kills and eight digs. Devlin added six kills, hitting .556 with two digs.

An 8-3 run in set one shifted the momentum to the Yellow Jackets, grabbing a four-point advantage and claiming the game 25-18. BW was down four (20-16) before three back-to-back-to-back blocks by junior outside hitter Nick Reilman (Medina/Walsh Jesuit) and freshman middle hitter Colby Whiteside (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) forced Hilbert to a timeout. The Yellow Jackets won set two (25-23) and set three (25-11).

BW vs. St. Norbert (1-2)

The Yellow Jackets were led by Devlin as he recorded 16 kills and seven digs. Reilman had a team-high 11 digs while sophomore setter Evan Herbst (Hamburg, N.Y.) dished out 36 assists.

Despite dropping the first set, BW quickly gained control of set two, going up 7-3 and never giving up the lead. The Yellow Jackets won set two 25-20 before going up 10-2 to start set three and went up 2-1 in the match. Set four featuring a lot of back-and-forth play before BW gained a four-point advantage (22-18). Despite the Green Knights closing the gap to two, the Yellow Jackets clinched the set (25-21) and match (3-1) win.

BW vs. Loras (3-1)

BW was led by Beard as he finished with a team-high 16 kills. He also added six digs, three total blocks, and one service ace. Devlin posted 11 kills, eight digs, and three service aces. Junior setter Brandon Long (Hinckley/Metea Valley, Ill.) notched 41 assists, 10 digs, two aces, and two blocks. 

With the score tied 19-19 in set one, the go-ahead points for BW were a kill from freshman middle hitter Josh Steinitz (Towson, Md./Friends School of Baltimore) and an error by the Duhawks. The Yellow Jackets kept that two-point advantage, taking set one 25-23. BW held control of most of the second set until a series of blocks by Loras put them up two (16-14). Back-to-back aces by Whiteside tied the set back up at 19-19. Earning a two-point advantage on Duhawk errors, a kill by Beard closed set two (25-23). The Yellow Jackets dropped set three and trailed most of set four before tying the game at 19-19. A big block by Whiteside forced a Loras timeout. Out of the break, the Yellow Jackets rattled off four unanswered points in a string of blocks, before taking the set (25-20) and match (3-1) over the undefeated Duhawks. 

The Yellow Jackets are back in action Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28 as they travel to Dallas, Pennsylvania. BW will take on Medaille (N.Y.) University at 4:00 p.m. and Randolph-Macon (Va.) College at 8:00 p.m. at Misericordia University inside the Anderson Center.