Geoff Schneider

Henry Moffitt is the only Daemen player to have appeared in all 39 sets this season

Streaking Men's Volleyball Hosts Central State Saturday

Wildcats looking for seventh straight win

2/25/2022 12:00:00 PM

Match #11
Daemen Wildcats (8-2) vs. Central State Marauders (0-9)
Saturday, Feb. 26 | 1 p.m. | Lumsden Gymnasium

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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. GOING STREAKING
The Daemen men's volleyball team rides a six-match winning streak into this weekend's action. The Wildcats welcome the Central State Marauders to Lumsden Gymnasium for a Saturday matinee. It marks the penultimate match of Daemen's nine-match home stand - the longest in program history. After falling in five sets to Division I St. Francis Brooklyn on Jan. 29, the Wildcats have dropped only three sets while winning each match. The streak was extended earlier this week when Daemen scored a four-set victory over Nazareth, a team ranked as high as 12th in the AVCA Division III Coaches Poll this season. Daemen totaled 50 kills on a .343 hitting percentage in the win - their sixth match this season with an attacking success rate of at least 30%.

2. WHAT'S TRENDING
Led by fourth-year head coach Don Gleason, the Wildcats have hit their stride over the last few seasons. Dating back to early February 2020, Daemen has won 27 of their last 31 matches. The Wildcats are coming off a perfect 10-0 season in 2021 when they were the only NCAA Division I-II team to finish without a loss. The program holds an all-time record of 36-26 and they enter Saturday's match having won 15 consecutive matches against Division II and III opponents.

3. OFF THE TRAINING TABLE
Daemen got a boost Wednesday by regaining the services of senior setter Michael Krueger and junior middle Jake Couzens. Both players had missed significant time while recovering from injuries. Krueger, playing in just his second match of the season, totaled 43 assists in the win over Nazareth. The team's primary setter since 2019, Krueger, has appeared in 50 matches and totaled 1,449 assists in his career. Couzens totaled seven kills on a .700 hitting percentage in his return. He's been extremely effective this season, averaging 1.82 kills, 0.45 aces and 0.58 blocks per set with a .480 hitting percentage.

4. ZACH ATTACK
Junior outside hitter Zach Schneider has paced the Daemen offense by averaging 3.35 kills and 0.71 aces per set this season. Schneider totaled 18 kills in Wednesday's win over Nazareth - four shy of his season-high and his sixth match this season with at least 10. He matched his season-high with four aces - his fourth match with as many this season. Schneider ranks fifth in aces per set and 32nd in kills per set among the Division I-II national leaders. In his career, he has appeared in 34 matches and is the program's all-time leader in kills with 383.

5. WHAT'S NEXT
Daemen's month-long home stand concludes next Wednesday, March 2 when crosstown rival D'Youville visits Lumsden Gymnasium for a 6 p.m. tilt.

CENTRAL STATE SCOUTING REPORT
The Central State Marauders are members of NCAA Division II competing as a men's volleyball independent. The program, led by head coach Ray Lewis, is in its inaugural season. Lewis was named to the position after leading Benedictine (Ariz.) to the 2019 NAIA national championship.

The Marauder roster is built almost entirely of first-year college players. Only sophomore libero Fernando Juarez has prior college playing experience after beginning his career at Long Beach City College.

The Marauders have played a difficult schedule and are still in search of the first win in program history. They've suffered a pair of five-set losses (vs. Indiana Tech and Maryville) and have also had setbacks against the likes of Ohio State, McKendree and Lindenwood.

Outside hitters Yaron Afek (2.53 kills/set) and Jayden Rookhuyzen (2.26 kills/set) are pacing the Central State offense which is producing 8.5 kills per set on a .090 hitting percentage. Defensively, Victor Scherer is averaged a team-high 3.83 digs per set while freshman middle Antonio Barraza leads in blocks (0.97 blocks/set).

The Marauders play Friday evening at D'Youville (7 p.m.)

ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. CENTRAL STATE
Series Record: 0-0
At Daemen: 0-0
Current Streak: N/A
Last Meeting: N/A

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