2008 Season Preview (1-8-08)
Despite losing two starters and two key reserves from the Division I team, the UW-Oshkosh men's volleyball team seems poised to remain near or at the top of the NIRSA Division I.
The two-time defending national champions return three-time All-American Aaron Wayne (Sr. • New Berlin) and All-Americans Nate Sederberg (Sr. • Racine) and John Erickson (Sr. • Ripon). Sederberg and Erickson were named Wisconsin Volleyball Conference First-Team last year and Wayne received honorable mention after splitting time between libero and left-side hitter during the regular season. Erickson was also named Midwest Ten Conference First-Team in 2007.
Other key returners for the Division I squad are Danny Hessling (Jr. • Greenfield) and Jordan Jung (Gr. • Muskego). Hessling was named WVC First-Team all-conference last season and Jung was the 2006 NIRSA Division III Libero-of-the-Year.
Hoping to make their mark on Division I are NIRSA Division III All-Americans Brandon Kirkland (Sr. • Racine) and Nathan Malewiski (Sr. • Casco). Kirkland and Malewiski return after a one-year hiatus after leading the 2006 NIRSA Division III squad to a national runner-up finish.
A core of newcomers hope to contribute to this year's team as the Titans welcome 19 new players to the 2008 roster. Leading the charge, and expecting to play on the Division I team are Tyler Boddy (Fr. • New Ulm, Minn.), Dan Ruys (Fr. • Kimberly) and Andy Schinner (Fr. • Mequon). Eric Waite (So. • Madison) is also looking to add depth to the Division I team.
Boddy becomes UW-Oshkosh's first Minnesota recruit, bringing size and power to the left side hitting position. Both Ruys and Schinner were named to the all-state team as seniors in leading their high school teams as a middle blocker and setter, respectively. Schinner was also a member of the North Shore Junior Olympic volleyball team, one of the leading high school club team in the nation. Waite, the starting setter on last year's NIRSA Division III team has been around volleyball his entire life as he is the son of University of Wisconsin women's head coach Pete Waite.
"Our Division I team will obviously have a new look this year after losing Andrew Sederberg and Mike Semrad," said head coach Brian Schaefer. "We lost two national Players-of-the-Year so most people will say we will be rebuilding. But, a lot of people said we would not win it last year after losing key players from the 2006 team so you never know what can happen in the middle of April."
With all the changes happening to the Division I team, one would expect the Titans NIRSA Division III to have a new look - and they do. Some consistency remains as Mike Callaway (Sr. • Waukesha), Mike Cotter (So. • Appleton), Jim Hall (Jr. • Appleton) and Chris Schinner (Jr. • Homestead) return to the starting line-up.
Highlighting the group is Schinner, who was named First-Team All-State as a high school senior and Hall, who was named the NIRSA Division III Libero-of-the-Year last season. Callaway and Schinner were named All-WVC First-Team and Hall was named the Libero-of the Year in the WVC Division II last season leading the team to a fifth-straight conference crown.
Newcomers to the NIRSA Division III team will be Matt Boese (Fr. • Delafield), Kurt Breier (Sr. • Kimberly), Jordan Mattingly (Fr. • Kaukauna), Gus Odorizzi (Fr. • Pleasant Prairie), Ryan Schultz (Fr. • Wauwatosa), Justin Soukup (So. • Madison) and Bradie Williams (Fr. • Middleton).
Breier was a member of the Titans' NIRSA Division I team that won the national title in 2006 and Williams was named Second-Team All-State last season. Except for Boese all six newcomers played high school volleyball. Boese's high school did not offer boys volleyball, but he was a member of North Shore Junior Olympic Volleyball Club.
"Our depth on our NIRSA Division III team will be a key component this year to continue our success we have had at the national level," added Schaefer. "We will have new middle blockers and setters this year, but our ball control should remain consistent."
Members of the Titans WVC Division III team are returning players Mark Beck (Jr. • Kimberly) and Alex Reynolds (So. • South Milwaukee) and first-year players Andrew Collins (Fr. • Germantown), Evan Fahl (Fr. • Appleton), Lars Fiorio (Fr. • Ashland), Brian Fox (Fr. • Fond du Lac), Mike Heup (Fr. • Oconomowoc), Miles Kraczek (Jr. • Cameron), Greg Lulich (Jr. • Ashland), Mike Murphy (Jr. • Richland Center) and Luke Wyngaard (Fr. • Kimberly).
Beck has been a three-year starter for the WVC Division III Titans and Reynolds will be moved from setter to hitter this year. The remaining players form a mix of high school experienced competitors and newcomers to the sport.
"This year's WVC Division III team will be the strongest we have ever had at UW-Oshkosh," said Schaefer. "We do not keep people to fill a quota. All of these guys can contribute and will get better as they learn the collegiate game and progress throughout the year. It will be exciting to see how good these guys will get in the first month of the season."
Steve Meyer (Fr. • Homestead), the 2006 Wisconsin high school Player-of-the-Year will be a member of this year's team but will be unable to participate due to an injury he sustained in a preseason tournament. "It is unfortunate that Steve will be out for the year," added Schaefer. "He is the real deal and would have made an immediate impact on our team. But we have not been successful just because of one player in the past and it will not be any different this year."
UW-Oshkosh is coming off of one the most impressive runs in NIRSA Division I history. In the last five years the Titans have placed fifth twice, second once and have won the last two national titles. In that time the Titans have won five Midwest Ten Conference titles and two Wisconsin Volleyball Conference titles and has sported a 264-40-3 record.
The NIRSA Division III team has also been very impressive. In the last three seasons the Titans have placed second once and third twice at the national championships. In that time they have recorded a 100-22-5 mark, with most of those losses coming to NIRSA Division I or II teams.
"It is exciting to know that we have a place in NIRSA history," said Schaefer. "It is a source of pride for our alumni and for our current players to continue the success that our program has at the collegiate club level. High school players are seeking us out, knowing that they will have a great experience as a member of the UW-Oshkosh men's volleyball team."
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