WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes men's volleyball team is set to open their 2025 campaign tomorrow, looking to build off of the best season in program history (20-9). Head coach Joseph Czopek will lead the Colonels in his ninth season as head coach, and first as a member of the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC).

"The guys came back with a ton of excitement and enthusiasm," Czopek said of the energy around the team ahead of the season. "Our fall non-traditional season went well for us, we thought we accomplished a lot of goals with our young guys, and we're looking to move forward now."

The Colonels welcome back eight from last year's squad, starting with graduate student Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley). The outside hitter holds program records in many attacking categories including single-season kills (344), career kills (748), and single-season points (424.0).

"He's our go-to," Czopek said of Shafer. "We look to him to lead the guys off the court as well as by example."

Along with Shafer, Wilkes will have the leadership of seniors Lucas Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central), Jacob Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central), and Jacob Haller (Birdsboro, PA/Exeter Township). Lucas was third on the team last season in points (219.5) and kills (180), while Jacob was second in blocks with 66.

Both Colonel juniors can be found on the back line in libero duo Alex Derk (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) and Sam Winter (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central). Derk had a team-best reception percentage of .955 in the 2024 season while Winter had a .875 reception percentage.

Sophomore setter James Brust (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) and outside hitter Aidan Hunter (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) will look to expand their roles in the 2025 season. Brust dished out 103 assists in limited play last season, while Hunter posted 104 points and 90 kills.

Wilkes also adds eight first year players to the squad in outside hitters Jacob Ruiz (Long Pond, PA/Pocono Mtn West) and Trey Tellier (Sayville, NY/Sayville), middle hitters Arron Ladd (Souderton, PA/Pennridge), Evanston Myers (Lake Winola, PA/Tunkhannock) and Marcus Binner (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock), opposite Jonathan Rocca, setter Joshua Conley (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks South), and libero Ryan McCorry (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands). All eight will look to make an immediate impact for the Colonels.

This will also mark the first season for Wilkes as a member of the CVC, a group of teams including three ranked in the preseason; Southern Virginia University (#2), Juniata College (#9), and Marymount University (#15).

"The CVC is well-known for its strength and power," Czopek said. "It's going to be a great competitive year, and we hope to do well and make our playoff round."

The Colonels take to the court for their first matches of the season this Saturday, January 11 as they host Eastern University and Elmira College at the Marts Center in a tri-match starting at 10:00 a.m.