Men's Volleyball Season Preview

Graduating just three seniors the Wildcats look to build upon the success of their 2010 season under second year head coach AJ Joseph. Joseph also welcomed former Wildcat Eddie Aronchick to the bench to join the JWU coaching staff. Aronchick finished playing for the 'Cats last season after playing two years in the Wildcat's uniform. A senior class of Komakana Fernandez, Taylor Martin-Funk, Mike Sauro, Chris Schardt and Jorden Smith will provide a strong base for Johnson & Wales. The five senior 'Cats are joined by returning players Alex Beehner, Brett Eisen, Nick Legler and Ryan Schroerlucke.

New members of the Wildcat squad are Jordan Meyer and Cody Sutton. Meyer a product of Ponderosa High School in Parker, Colorado joins the 'Cats as an Outside Hitter. At Ponderosa, Meyer and the Mustangs were league and state champions thanks to a 23-0 record. Sutton of Gilbert, Arizona was named Williams Field High School Most Valuable Player his junior and senior year and led the Back Hawks to the 2010 playoffs.

The 'Cats will open their 2011 campaign in early January, kicking it off with an exhibition match against the JWU Alumni team on Friday, January 7 at 6pm. The Wildcats will open regular season play the following week hosting D'Youville College and Holy Names University in a stretch of matches from January 12 – 16. JWU will then welcome MAMVIC West foe Park University and Grand Canyon University the following weekend in another round-robin matchup. The highlight of the January 20-22 weekend will be the 'Cats hosting Grand Canyon at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

The Wildcats will open February hosting Boise State University's and the University of Colorado's club teams in exhibition matches on February 4 and 5 before traveling to Marshall, Missouri to take on division rival Missouri Valley the following weekend. Johnson & Wales will then travel across the west for their Spring Break to take on Hope International and Holy Names in California, February 25-28 before trekking to Missouri to face Hannibal-LaGrange College and Lindenwood University on March 3-6.

The rest of March will feature two back to back weekends full of home games as the Wildcats welcome Graceland College and Saint Ambrose University in matches to be played at the Wildcat Center and Colorado Convention Center during the Colorado Crossroads Junior National Qualifier on March 12-14. The 'Cats will again play host at Colorado Crossroads and on campus March 17-19 in matches featuring Missouri Baptist University and Hope International.

Johnson & Wales will close out regular season play in Tampa, Florida taking on Limestone College, Warner University and Cardinal Stritch on March 25 and 26. JWU compete at the MAMVIC West tournament on April 1-2 in Hannibal, Missouri looking to secure a berth to the NAIA National Invitational in Davenport, Iowa the weekend of April 14-16.

View the full schedule with game times and any live video/stat options here.