Mount Union Athletics

From Precision to Power: Mount Union Men’s Volleyball’s Young Core Powers Past Hiram 3-1

_{The Purple Raiders’ Offense found rhythm despite Michael Bowler being inactive.}

Alliance, OH- Whenever a team graduates all but two of its starters, a down year would be expected. However, Mount Union Men’s Volleyball continues to bring the same punch from a season ago. That was evident in the Purple Raiders’ 3-1 win over Hiram, which improved their season record to 5-3.

Freshman Luke Pemberton was the star of the show for Mount Union heading into the match, as he was fresh off a 37-kill weekend. The former Jackson Polar Bear once again headlined the offense with a game-high 10 kills. Still, he admitted the difference between the high school and collegiate game, stating,

“It’s been a big adjustment going to college, but it’s been a lot easier now that my teammates are here.”

His importance was further illustrated in the 3rd set as he didn’t see the floor as the Purple Raiders dropped their only set of the night, 25-20.

Looking inward, the 2025 MCVL Offensive Player of the Year, Michael Bowler, was inactive. Thus, sophomores Carson Jeffers and Justin Dickson stepped in to fill the void at middle hitter. The pair combined for 12 kills while Jeffers added three serving aces and Dickson added two blocks.

“Those two guys are working hard at practice and doing the work,” remarked Mount Union head coach Matt Mihelic, “they’re learning and growing as players.”

In the first set, the Purple Raiders got out to a 5-1 lead with Pemberton getting 30% of his kills on the first three serves. The Terriers battled back within one on numerous occasions, but couldn’t find a decisive blow. A kill from Sam Morrison forced the hand of 1st-year Hiram head coach Kyle Martini, a former player and award-winner for the Terriers, as he used his first timeout down 18-15.

Martini had to use his other timeout, down 22-18, later in the set. In the end, the combination of Ryan Lippert serving, Justin Peters assisting, and Pemberton killing was too much to overcome as Mount Union noched a 25-19 set one victory.

With the likes of Aaron Armour, Jack McClure, and Will Heeney graduating out of the program, replacing them was never going to be easy. However, Peters’ 31 assists against Hiram put him at 254 on the season. Last season, Heeney averaged 8.83 assists/set. Currently, Peters is at 8.76 assists/set. Peters attributes this success to his connection with the hitters, as he said,

“I’m working on the connection with my hitters more and more every game and practice.”

Mount Union kept its foot on the gas to start the second set, taking 13 out of the opening 16 points to go up by 10. In the end, the Purple Raiders would win the set 25-14, the largest margin of victory UMU has had in a set against the Terriers since March 15, 2023. Just like this matchup, the 25-14 set was the second of the match three years ago.

One of the main reasons why it happened again was the ace discrepancy. Overall, Mount Union out-aced Hiram 13-2. Morrison had a tied team-high three aces. He credits the Purple Raiders’ assistant coach, Jeff McDivitt, for his serving success, saying,

“He [McDivitt] is the knowledge behind my swings back at the service line.”

After a rocky third set, Mount Union came out swinging in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead from the jump. This led to a 25-17 victory and a 3-1 win overall against the Terriers. This was UMU’s third win in-a-row this season and against Hiram.

Up next for Mount Union (5-3) are four tough matchups against North Park, #15 Aurora, Concordia University Chicago, and ‘RV’¹ Dominican University, all in Illinois. With the Purple Raiders’ falling out of the ‘Receiving Votes’ section of the AVCA Poll, these games provide a path back towards the top 20.

As for Hiram (2-3), they look to regroup against Hilbert College, a team they have already defeated in straight sets this season, on February 7th at home.

Leading the way offensively for the Terriers was Derek Chiang, who had 10 kills. Cullen Sivak and Gavin Stewart followed with eight and six, respectively. Liam Dwyer, who won PAC Newcomer of the Week, had a game-high four blocks. This tally was enough to double the Purple Raiders’ total output. Kekoa Tani facilitated the offense with 31 assists.

Both teams have entered a new era. For the Purple Raiders, it’s a youth revival that packs a punch. As for the Terrirs, it’s a program legend returning home to guide his Alma Mater. As of February 3rd, it’s advantage Mount Union.

‘RV’ is the typical shorthand for ‘Receiving Votes.’ ↩︎

Mikey Maloney Dominates in First Career Mount Union Start as the Purple Raiders Defeat Wheaton 37-29

Alliance, OH- For the 38th consecutive season, the Mount Union Purple Raiders get a win in week one by downing the Wheaton Thunder 37-29. With it, the NCAA’s longest regular-season win streak increases to 76. The last time UMU lost in the regular season was in their last game against John Carroll in Alliance.

Mount Union got the ball to begin the game and wasted no time driving down the field. Mikey Maloney picked up a first down by connecting with returning wideout Nick Turner. Maloney followed this up with a 55-yard run, putting UMU at the Wheaton seven-yard line. Three plays later, Wyatt Stiehl caught his first touchdown pass since returning to Mount after a year at Southern Florida. Ivan Maric would miss the extra point, so the score remained 6-0 with 13:17 left in the first quarter.

The Thunder would pick up nine yards on their opening drive as Mark Forcucci found Seth Kortenhoeven. However, back-to-back incompletions forced Wheaton to punt. Mount Union used the short yardage game as a launching pad during its second drive. Seven out of the nine plays on the drive went for less than 10 yards. The exceptions came in the form of a 21-yard pass to Turner and a 17-yard touchdown pass to Elmherst transfer Jacob Cockrell. Maric was able to redeem himself as he made the extra point, making it 13-0 with 7:24 left in the first quarter.

The Thunder responded on the following drive as they went 51 yards on four plays to get on the board by way of a 10-yard rushing touchdown from Matt Crider. The Purple Raiders would also respond, taking eight plays and 75 yards to find the endzone. This time, Maloney connected with Shaun Thomas on a wheel route for the 42-yard score. This made the score 20-7 as the first quarter came to a close.

Wheaton looked for an answer with a mythodical drive, but a Forcucci incompletion on the 12th play ended the drive at Mount’s 27-yard line. To make matters worse, Maloney found Cockrell for an 81-yard touchdown after being sacked on the prior play. With the Purple Raiders up by 20, the Thunder needed to get back in the game. However, another mythodical drive stalled out as Wheaton turned the ball over at UMU’s 11-yard line. From there, Mount Union would have a drive stall out after 9 plays, which was followed by a Thunder three-and-out. After trying to get down the field quickly at the end of the half, Maloney was dragged down for the second time, and the Purple Raiders opted to run the clock out. Through 30 minutes, it was Mount Union up 27-7.

The Wheaton offense would continue to have its struggles as the second half began. They would go three-and-out for the second consecutive series, this time with negative eight yards of offense. Maric would hit his first field goal of the season on the ensuing drive, making it 30-7. Keenan Cruz would get his first career interception at Mount Union on the first play of the Thunder’s next drive. This gave Maloney and the offense a short field. Turner would get into the endzone for the first time this season on a one-yard touchdown pass from Maloney. This would round out the Purple Raiders’ offense for the day as they led 37-7.

Down by 30 as the fourth quarter began, things looked bleak for Wheaton. Once again, the Thunder opted for a mythical drive. However, Forcucci was able to find the endzone on a 21-yard scamper. This made it 37-14. Junior quarterback Chase Copper would come in for Mount Union, along with sophomore running back Kayden Minner. They were able to move the ball 19 yards before a loss of two on a rush and a loss of five on a delay of game penalty, forcing Michael Franklin back onto the field to punt. Overall, two of Franklin’s punts ended up inside the 20-yard line. He averaged 44.3 yards per punt, improving on his 41 yards per punt in 2024.

With 8:15 left in the game, the Thunder offense finally clicked. Forcucci took 4:28 off the clock before finding Kortenhoeven for a 19-yard touchdown. This made it 37-21. Then, Wheaton recovered an onside kick out of nowhere. Yet again, Kortenhoeven punished the Purple Raiders as he caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Forcucci. With a successful two-point conversion, a 30-point game became a one-possession game. Maloney and the starters were forced back onto the field given the circumstances, and they got the job done. On a crucial third down, Maloney found Matt Anderson for his 19th completion of the day. However, the tight end fumbled the ball. Still, UMU was able to pounce on the rock, sealing the 37-29 victory.

“The Machine is the consistency of the program,” remarked Mount Union head coach Geoff Dartt after the game.

It’s no secret that players want to come to Alliance to play for UMU, as shown by the sheer number of players on the roster. However, Coach Dartt doesn’t want just any player.

“I think that [35 OAC losses since first title back in 1985] speaks more to the players that are choosing to come here and want to be coached hard and become the best versions of themselves…and I think it’s even more important when you recruit people, they’re good people that want to be coached and want to be developed.”

One of the best pieces of recruiting this past offseason, staying in line with Coach Dartt’s mantra, was bringing in Jacob Cockrell from Elmherst. In his Purple Raider debut, he caught three passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

“Meeting these coaches and players, I really wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” proclaimed Cockrell after the game.

Circling back to Mount Union’s lone interception, senior Keenan Cruz was glad to see his hard work pay off in a big way.

Cruz said, “Yeah, it’s amazing. A lot of preparation and work was put in. To see some of that pay off and finally get that [interception], that’s awesome.”

As for the Purple Raiders’ new QB 1 in Mikey Maloney, he had the definition of a dream debut. He went 19/24 with 307 yards and 5 touchdowns. He was also second on the team with 44 rushing yards.

Last season, the Riverside legend went down with an injury that ended his campaign in the win against Wilmington. However, he found comfort in God as he attributed his success to Him.

“The biggest thing being injured is the mental side of it, and I think I grew a lot as a person. My faith in God really helped me find myself, helped me be confident in His plan for me. So, I just put my faith in Him.”

During the postgame press conference with Coach Dartt, he even joked that Maloney could run for Mayor of Riverside [Painesville], showing not only that he is an excellent quarterback, but also a good person.

Next week, it’s on to Grove City as Mount Union takes on the Wolverines in their second and final 1 PM kickoff of the season. This week, Grove City made a statement as they knocked off #10 Courtland 31-14 on the road in New York.

As for Wheaton, it is another road trip next week as they take on Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. The Vikings earned a thrilling win, 42-41, in overtime on the road against Simpson in Iowa. This matchup will begin College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play for the 2025 campaign.

Mount Union had a task heading into week one-keep The Machine rolling and get the win. In the end, it’s mission accomplished for one of the prides of Alliance, albeit in a closer game than once expected. As the saying goes, a win’s a win. 13 more wins, and Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium will host the Purple Raiders in the Stagg Bowl to close out the season.

The Battle for Lakewood Under the Lights

Lakewood, OH- Friday Night Under the Lights has become a beloved tradition for Lakewood baseball over the years. On May 2, this tradition will turn into a battleground as St Edward’s rolls in.

This game has the makings of an instant classic from the start. On one hand, the Rangers have home-field advantage along with a better record. On the other hand, the Eagles’ ability to win is almost unmatched in Northeast Ohio. As for state rankings via MaxPreps, this is as close as physically possible. Lakewood enters the night as the 143rd-ranked team in Ohio while St Ed’s sits at 144th. In regard to form, the Eagles are in control as they’ve won their last four, while the Rangers only have a one-game win streak.

While both sides have plenty of standout players, Cooper Russell (LKWD) and Leo Bartolone (SEHS) are two of the expected impact players in this ball game. Bartolone is committed to play college ball at John Carroll after this season. Speaking of the Blue Streaks’ rivals, Mount Union scooped up Logan Ellis and Leo Soneson from Lakewood. With the NCAC calling JCU, it remains to be seen if these three will face off in another rivalry game after this one.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 PM at Lakewood High School. In the past few years, Lakewood has completed its all-turf field with some renovations. With that being said, the Rangers have one of the best fields in all of NEO. You can watch the game live on the SmeeSports YouTube Channel. Nathan Smee will have the call beginning at 6:50 PM with the SmeeSports Pregame Show. The player of the game announced at the end of this broadcast will be presented by our friends over at CrossFit Strongsville.

Watch Lakewood Vs St Edward Baseball: https://www.youtube.com/live/rjmo7g4QPCA?si=w0kCJySwaEEoM5Mh

Mount Union MVB Wins the 2025 MCVL Regular Season Crown

Alliance, OH- For the first time since the 2023 season, Mount Union has won the MCVL regular season title. Today, they took down rivals Baldwin Wallace 3-2 on the road to ensure a solo title.

The last time the Purple Raiders won the conference, they went 7-1 with their loss coming against #3 Wittenberg. Before the season began, the Purple Raiders were slated to finish third in the conference behind the Tigers and the Yellow Jackets.

In the regular season finale, Mount Union got out to an early 7-0 lead in set 1. BW fought back as much as they could, getting as close as 2 points. Still, it was UMU taking home the opening frame 25-19. The Purple Raiders kept cruising in the second set, establishing a cushion from the jump. In the end, Mount Union left set 2 with a 25-20 victory.

Baldwin Wallace started their comeback in the third frame. With a 20-16 lead in the third, the game looked destined to head to a fourth set. However, a 7-1 run from the Purple Raiders saw them lead 23-21. With their backs against the wall, the Yellow Jackets rallied off 4 points in a row to win the third set 25-23. BW turned around after the third to control the fourth set, winning 25-20. Unlike the third set, Baldwin Wallace controlled the tempo.

Heading into the final set, momentum was with the Yellow Jackets. Still, Mount Union got to work and battled. A 3-0 run from the Purple Raiders set UMU up to succeed. In the middle of the fifth, a 6-0 run put the dagger in BW’s valiant comeback. Jacob Nussdorfer’s 10th and final kill sealed the 15-7 win in set 5.

Looking at the stat sheet, it was the senior duo of Jack McClure and Will Heeney who led the charge. McClure posted 19 kills while Heeney recorded 41 assists. As for digs, it was a balanced effort. Peyton Koszelak had 10 digs while Aaron Armour and Beckham Heller had 9.

For the Yellow Jackets, Daniel Latham led the way with a game-high 22 kills. Evan Herbst ran the BW offense with a total of 38 assists. In the back line, it was Daniel Abercrombie who ran the show with 13 digs.

The stage is now set for the MCVL Tournament. Mount Union will host as the #1 seed. Wittenberg will be the #2 seed with Baldwin Wallace sitting as the #3 seed. Finally, Trine makes the tournament as the 4th and final seed. On Friday, April 11, the Purple Raiders will play the Thunder while the Yellow Jackets look for redemption against the Tigers. The championship game will be played the following afternoon. While the times are not confirmed, the games are rumored to be played at 4PM and 7PM on Friday and 4PM on Saturday.

Picture Credit: Payton Berkley (PB30photos on Instagram)