WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes University men's volleyball team is set to begin their 2026 season on Sunday, looking to rebound after an 8-21 2025 campaign.

Joseph Czopek returns for his 10th season as head coach of the program, and second as a member of the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC). Czopek leads a roster consisting of 15 players, five first years, six sophomores, two juniors, and two seniors.

"The guys came in with a lot of fire this year," Czopek said when asked about the team's excitement for this season. "We worked hard in the preseason both in the gym and in the weight room. Everyone is holding each other accountable, and this is all a good recipe for success."

The two seniors leading the charge are the libero duo of Sam Winter (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) and Alex Derk (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge). Last season was the best of Derk's Colonel career, appearing in all 29 matches and finishing second on the team in both digs (190) and reception percentage (.952).

"Both of those guys are going to hold us up defensively," Czopek said when talking about the senior liberos. "Their experience in the big conference games is huge for us."

The two returning juniors are outside hitter Aidan Hunter (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) and setter James Brust (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights). Hunter finished the 2025 season third on the team in points (142.5) and kills (125). Meanwhile, Brust racked up 340 assists in the 23 matches he appeared in. Hunter will look to replace some of the production of Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley), who ranks first all time in program history in career kills (1111) and many other categories.

"[Hunter] has got some big shoes to fill, but I think he's ready to be the leader both offensively and defensively," Czopek said.

The sophomore core consists of middle hitters Marcus Binner (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock), Aaron Ladd (Souderton, PA/Pennridge), and Evanston Myers (Lake Winola, PA/Tunkhannock), opposite Jonnathan Rocha, libero Trey Tellier (Sayville, NY/Sayville), and setter Joshua Conley (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks South). Myers and Ladd tied for fourth on the team in blocks last season with 25.0 each, and Conley made an immediate impact during his first season by leading the team in assists with 493.

Lastly, the five first-year players are middle hitters Logan Maha (Sayville, NY/Sayville) and Logan Berger (Bath, PA/Northampton), outside hitters Aiden Amon (Pittstown, NJ/North Hunterdon) and Zach Sheaffer (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township), and opposite Carter Otto (Mountain View, CA/Mountain View). All five look to make an immediate impact in year one and fill the shoes of those who departed from the program.

"It's a great recruiting class this year, they are all really solid players," Czopek said. "[Maha] brings great club experience playing for one of the top clubs in the New York Area. [Otto and Amon] had decorated high school careers as well, so we're excited to see what they are capable of."

This season will be the last season that the Colonels compete in the CVC. Starting with the 2027 season, the team will compete in the newly formed Landmark Conference for men's volleyball alongside familiar programs such as Juniata, Drew, and Elizabethtown.

"Men's volleyball keeps growing around the nation. Being part of another starting conference is a big deal, with four of the new teams coming out of the CVC. It's a great starting foundation for the conference on top of adding the University of Scranton and Lycoming College."

In the AVCA preseason poll, two CVC teams in Juniata (#3) and Southern Virginia (#4) are ranked in the top 10, with two other conference rivals in Marymount and Rutgers-Newark both receiving votes.

"The CVC is definitely the strongest conference in the nation," Czopek said. "National champion Southern Virginia is here alongside other teams ranked in the top 15. You have to be ready to play 110% because there are no easy matches in the CVC."

The Colonels take the court for the first time this season on Sunday, Jan. 18 for a tri-match against Eastern University and Nazareth University at the Marts Center. Both matches begin at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. respectively. 

"We've battled with Eastern every single year with them for the past seven years. They lost a lot of players to graduation, but it's not going to be an easy game by any means." Czopek said. Nazareth was ranked last year at No. 13 in the nation. They bring a lot of high caliber volleyball to the table."