Tag: University of Mount Union

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.

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

‘Mount Lax’ Takes Center Stage, Defeats Baldwin Wallace 12-9 to Advance to OAC Championship 

Alliance, OH- Entering play tonight, only four women’s lacrosse teams remained in contention for the Ohio Athletic Conference title—Mount Union, John Carroll, Capital, and Baldwin Wallace. At Kehres Stadium, the Purple Raiders took care of the Yellow Jackets 12-9. This was a game of redemption for UMU as they lost 15-12 in Berea on April 2. 

As expected, Mount Union came out with a vengeance. Graduate student Eden Kessler opened the scoring 85 seconds in. Next up, Katie Clark made it 2-0 with 9:49 left in the first quarter. Emily Funk made it 3-0 minutes later while UMU was up a player. Halfway through the first quarter, the Purple Raiders had complete control of the match. Claire Alic put BW on the board with 6:28 on the clock in the first. Ella Nejad capped off the scoring for UMU in the first with a goal of her own. With the score sitting at 4-1, Lily Tope beat the buzzer with a last-second goal, making the score 4-2 after 15 minutes. 

Nejad became the first repeat goal scorer of the day as she put Mount Union’s first of four second-quarter goals into the back of the net. Kessler and Clark backed up Ella soon after with strikes of their own. With 12:48 on the clock in the first half, it was all UMU 7-2. From there, Alic would complete her hat trick with two unassisted goals in the following seven minutes. Nejad finished what she started with 1:47 remaining in the first half as she scored the Purple Raiders’ eighth goal of the game. At halftime, UMU comfortably led 8-4. 

The second half had a slow start. Both teams had opportunities to advance, but no one was able to get the opening blow. Then, Mariana Melgoza delivered the first blow of the third quarter after a good battle near the crease. Alic continued her solo success by scoring twice, making it 8-7. Then, the equalizer. Taylor Miklos—assisted by Melgoza—tied the game up at 8 with a masterful goal. With 15 minutes left to play, everything was still to play for. 

It has been well known this season that Mount Union women’s lacrosse has a strong New York backbone. The likes of Abby Lindkvist, Reese Fuenfstueck, Makenzie Kolstad, and Mae Pawlikowski have led many great plays this season. Tonight, that was no different. 53 seconds into the fourth, Fuenfstueck found the breakthrough. Next, Pawlikowski backed up her assist with a goal of her own. Finally, Funk scored for the second time, assisted by Fuenfstueck. Exactly one minute after that goal, Annette Doren brought the Yellow Jackets back within two. After 10 minutes of back-and-forth defense, the game was all but over. However, Pawlikowski added the cherry on top with a last-second goal. As the final buzzer sounded in Alliance, it was Mount Union victorious 12-9.  

While the team celebrated on the field afterwards, this win was a stepping stone to something greater. The next step? An OAC championship victory. Last year, they fell short in Columbus against Capital 22-9. Mount Union is ready to get back to their 2010s dominance, which saw them win six consecutive OAC tournament championships from 2014-2019. The team in their way this time out–John Carroll. The Blue Streaks won their first 14 games before the Purple Raiders had their number 16-10 in Alliance on April 23.  

The OAC championship game is Saturday at 1 PM at Kehres Stadium. The game can be streamed on OAC TV with Nathan Smee on the call.