WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's volleyball team is ready to embark on their 2024 campaign. The Colonels look to build on their best season in program history; finishing 18-10 overall and 3-6 in their final season in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The team will compete as an NCAA independent in 2024 under the direction of Joseph Czopek, who returns for his eighth season as the head coach.
 
Wilkes welcomes back a plethora of experience, starting with fifth year setter Zach Shay (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom). Shay holds the single-season program record for assists (785) and assists-per-set (9.02), which he accomplished during the 2023 season. He led the team in digs last season (149) and also tallied the most career assists in program history with 1,704.
 
The Colonels will also turn to their five seniors for leadership throughout the season. Middle hitter Paul Binner (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock) started 27 of 28 matches last season and amassed 302 points, 203 kills, and a team-high 87 blocks. He broke the individual game record for service aces with nine and currently holds the career record for points (606) and kills (437). He is joined by Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley), who led the team and set a new single season record with 342 points in 2023. The outside hitter completed a team-high 287 kills last season.
 
Rounding out the senior class are outside hitters Noah Taylor (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional) as well as opposite Matthew Molnar (South Abington Township, PA/Abington Heights). Taylor racked up 197 points for the Blue and Gold last season and set a single match record for kills with 24. Molnar recorded 25.5 points for Wilkes in 2023.
 
The Colonel junior class consists of outside hitter Lucas Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central), middle hitter Jacob Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central) and opposite Jacob Haller (Birdsboro, PA/Exeter Township). L. Mages collected 208 points last season and 44 blocks, which closely trails his brother's 50 blocks. Haller registered 47.5 points and a .935 reception percentage for Wilkes in 2023.
 
Liberos Sam Winter (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) and Alex Derk (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) will look to expand their roles as they return for their sophomore year. The duo attempted 291 and 229 receptions respectively and boasted almost identical reception percentages of .942 and .943 respectively.
 
Joining the team for their first season in the Blue and Gold are setters James Brust (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) and Landon Hinton (Manchester, NJ/Manchester Township) in addition to outside hitter Aidan Hunter (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson). All three first years will look to make an immediate impact for the Colonels.
 
Wilkes was scheduled to begin its season on Tuesday, January 16 at Eastern University but the match has been postponed to a date to be announced. The team returns home to the newly-renovated Marts Center on Saturday, January 27 when they host Penn State Altoona and Manhattanville in a tri-match starting at 12:00 p.m.