The Ranger’s men’s volleyball team entered conference play for the first time in team history last Friday as they took on Southern Virginia University, who are currently ranked second in the Continental Volleyball Conference.
While the Rangers were dealt a quick 3-0 loss, this game marks the beginning of a historical moment for men’s volleyball at Drew.
Last spring, the team wrapped up their third season as a Division III independent with a promising record of 14-15 and set the team up for the ability to make further progress in expanding the program led by head coach Julian Diaz. Part of that progress is playing within a conference.
The Continental Volleyball Conference currently consists of Eastern Mennonite University, Elizabethtown College, Juniata College, Kean University, Marymount University, Randolph Macon College, Roanoke College, Rutgers University-Newark and Southern Virginia University.
Alongside Drew as their newest addition is a familiar face to other Drew athletes in the Landmark Conference, Wilkes University.
In addition to their inaugural conference appearance, Drew welcomed a freshmen class of seven students, the largest class in team history. Each has played a major role already in the first half of this season.
Notably, Matthew Adegbite (‘28) currently leads the team in kills, Quinn Donohue (‘28) has tallied 201 assists in the first thirteen games alone, and Michael Shipman (‘28) leads in blocks. Their ability to thrive in the competitive nature of collegiate athletics provides optimism for the future of the Rangers’ volleyball.
The success of the freshmen class and the ability to enter this new chapter in team history is a testament to their success in the leadership of their returning players, including seniors CJ Addeo (‘25), Bryan Do (‘25), Ephraim Smith (‘25) and Huriel Perez (‘25), as well as stat leaders Barend Oostdam (‘26) and Andrew Duhaime (‘26).
The Ranger’s next game is a tri-match against Stevens and Wentworth Institute of Technology on Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., returning to Baldwin Gym against John Jay College on Feb. 22 at 11 a.m.
Gillian Sampson is a graduate student pursuing a masters in education.
