About
GVSU MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The GVSU men’s volleyball club offers male students at Grand Valley State University the opportunity to play competitive volleyball at a high level against other colleges and universities across the country. We are a member school of the MIVA (Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) and a NIRSA recognized club. GVSU competes in the GMMVC (Great Midwest Men’s Volleyball Conference) league with Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kent State, Miami U., Ohio Northern, Ohio U., Cincinnati, Dayton, Kentucky, and Western Michigan.
Other MIVA teams include (Big Ten schools – BTMVA) – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin-Madison. The 3rd league in MIVA is the M10VC – Ball State, Illinois State, Iowa State, Lakeland, Marquette, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Year after year MIVA’s is the toughest Conference in the country and produces the most nationally ranked teams annually.
2008-09
2008-2009 was an exciting year for GVSU Men’s Volleyball. All four ALL-STARS returned along with a new transfer from WESTERN MICHIGAN: GMMVC 2nd Team player, Brandon Enright. Other key players included: libero/team President Michael Lozier, middle blockers Jordan Timmerman and Stephen Hull, utility player Neil Sipress, and first year player Luke Lettinga.
GVSU started out the year quickly winning the Central Michigan preseason tournament, beating Michigan State in the finals. GVSU continued the success winning the Laker Challenge preseason tournament, again beating Michigan State in the finals. At the Michigan State Hardwood tournament, GVSU stumbled losing tough 3 game matches to Iowa State and Indiana. GVSU fought back to make the gold bracket however had a tough draw against preseason #1, Illinois, and were eliminated from the tournament. It was still GVSU’s highest ever finish at the MSU Hardwood tournament.
At our first conference playdate, GVSU was without 4 key starters. Still the rest of the team stepped up and had chances to win key matches but fell short. At the second playdate and GMMVC conference championships, the team came back strong. GVSU took down nationally ranked teams Ohio University and Baldwin Wallace, along with Western Michigan. GVSU continued the strong play beating Ohio University again in the quarter finals of the GMMVC championships. GVSU then defeated nationally ranked Dayton who was also the tournament host. GVSU faced nationally ranked Cincinnati in the conference finals. In the finals, Cincinnati played strong and though GVSU had chances to win, Cincinnati prevailed.
Next up was the MIVA championships held in Dekalb, IL at Northern Illinois University. In pool play GVSU had chances and were winning every match against nationally ranked teams: Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Lakeland, and Illinois; but the experience of all of the teams out lasted the Lakers. GVSU displayed the comeback attitude that has changed within the program and rolled through day 2 to go undefeated in the Silver Bracket. GVSU took down Iowa State, rival Western Michigan, nationally ranked UW Milwaukee and nationally ranked host school Northern Illinois to win the Silver Bracket of MIVA’s. This again was GVSU’s highest finish in program history and another step forward in the development and future of the program.
GVSU was again invited to the Division 1 bracket of Nationals for the second year in a row. In Kansas City, Mo., GVSU drew #9 Sacramento State in the first match of pool play. GVSU had the match in hand but could not close it out. Up next was #4 Arizona. They were worthy of their ranking and had too much fire power. Next GVSU faced a tough finely tuned Boston College team and won a great match against the Eagles. In pool play Boston College beat Sacramento State and took Arizona to 3 games. Due to a 3 way tie for second place in the pool, Boston College made it out to the gold bracket on point differential. GVSU played a 1 game match against Sacramento State for 3rd place in the pool. A slow start, 0-5, proved to be too much, and though we were better the rest of the game we lost. This was a painful lesson to the team about being prepared and getting off to a slow start. GVSU walked away knowing that both matches against #9 Sacramento State should have been won by GVSU and a win would have given the team a path to the gold bracket which we felt we were worthy of. Instead the game sent us to a challenge pool on day two with nationally ranked #26 Utah State, and GMMVC foe, #17 Cincinnati.
Our players were disappointed by their day 1 performance and came out with determination and dominated #26 Utah State and #17 Cincinnati. The first place finish in the pool moved us on to the Silver Bracket. GVSU had a tough draw in the first match facing #5 James Madison. GVSU played well but lost 25-19, 25-22 to end the season. GVSU finished #25 in the country for the second year in a row. Though the team had higher expectations, GVSU was in every match, often times with solid chances to win. The difference in the matches clearly was that other nationally ranked teams had the big game experience which allowed them to prevail. GVSU proved with solid finishes throughout the year and many tough battles that the program has arrived and will continue to be a recognized force in men’s volleyball.
FINAL RANKING: #25
ALL-STARS:
- IGOR POPOVIC – GMMVC 1ST TEAM
- STEPHEN HULL – GMMVC Honorable Mention
NOTABLE FINISHES:
- CENTRAL MICHIGAN TOURNAMENT – 1ST
- GVSU LAKER CHALLENGE – 1ST
- MICHIGAN STATE HARDWOOD CLASSIC- 9TH
- GMMVC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS – 2ND
- MIVA CHAMPIONSHIPS – 1ST PLACE – SILVER BRACKET
- NIRSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – 25TH
2007-08
2007-2008 looked to be the strongest team in recent history with the addition of a new Head Coach (Todd Allen). GVSU began a new era in the program with a goal of making our team a dominant force in men’s volleyball. The program was built up to 21 players, fielding both an A team and a B team for the first time in the history of the program.
GVSU had its first ever win versus nationally ranked MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITYat the MSU Holiday Classic. GVSU beat MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY again in the championship game of the MICHIGAN COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS held at MSU. This was GVSU’s first ever STATE OF MICHIGAN CHAMPION – TITLE. GVSU also had two notable victory’s over nationally ranked NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY.
The second win versus NOTRE DAME came in the championship game of the GVSU KING OF THE COURT CHALLENGE, the first ever tournament hosted by GVSU. GVSU also had two wins versus Division II nationally ranked BALDWIN-WALLACE.
GVSU also had it’s greatest victory in program history, beating eventual 2007-2008 NIRSA National Champions, LAKELAND COLLEGE, at the MIVA Championships held at OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. GVSU was knocked out of MIVA’s in a grueling 3 game come from behind win by NOTRE DAME.
At the NIRSA National Championships held in Dallas, Texas; GVSU had key wins versus CINCINNATI and NAVY and were knocked out of the tournament again by NOTRE DAME in a well played matched falling 15-13 in the 3rd game. GVSU held a national ranking of Honorable Mention for the entire regular season. GVSU finished Nationals in 25th place. This marked the highest finish ever in program history.
FINAL RANKING: #25
ALL-STARS:
- BRANDYN THORSEN – GMMVC 2nd Team
- CHRIS KLIEWER – GMMVC Honorable Mention
- IGOR POPOVIC – GMMVC Honorable Mention
- JUSTIN HOBECK – GMMVC Honorable Mention
NOTABLE FINISHES:
- MICHIGAN STATE HOLIDAY CLASSIC – 2ND
- GVSU KING OF THE COURT CHALLENGE – 1ST
- MICHIGAN COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS – 1ST
- GMMVC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS – 3RD
- NIRSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – 25TH
2007-2008 was a great success for first year Head Coach Todd Allen and the many players on the team that put in their hardest year of work ever. GVSU also hosted 2 tournaments for the first time in program history.
If you are interested in joining the GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY Men’s Volleyball program, please contact Head Coach Todd Allen or one of the players.
GO LAKERS!