The Lancaster Bible College men's volleyball team opens its 2018 campaign on Tuesday night, as the Chargers welcome the third-ranked team in NCAA Division III, New Paltz, to Horst Athletic Center. The Hawks won the 2016 NCAA Division III National Championship and will be one of at least five ranked teams the Chargers face this season. 

Lancaster Bible returns almost everyone from a season ago when the Chargers won a program-record 25 matches. The Chargers saw their season end in the North Eastern Athletic Conference Semifinals in 2017, but Lancaster Bible is hoping for a different ending in 2018, and with so many returners, as well as a solid influx of new players, the Chargers' coaching staff believes the program's first-ever NEAC title is within reach.

Back for More: Lancaster Bible returns 11 players from last season, including seven who started at least 12 matches. Sophomore Kaleb Ansell, who was the 2017 NEAC Rookie of the Year, is back, as he set the program-record for assists in a season last year with 962. Joining him is fellow NEAC All-Conference 1st Team selection Kasey Gentry, as Gentry once again led the Chargers in kills last season with 328. Gentry, in his final season with the Chargers, led Lancaster Bible with 39 aces last season as well. 

Junior Daniel Kreider, named to the NEAC All-Conference 2nd Team a year ago, returns as well, as he had a team-high 84 blocks last season and led the NEAC with a .391 hitting percentage. Senior Derek Bigley is back for one last season, as he collected 223 kills in 2017, while sophomore Kole Horst returns after posting 212 kills and 24 aces in his freshman season.

Senior Sky Woelkers is also back for one more go-round, as he posted 64 blocks last season to go with 65 kills. Junior Joshua Rotz played 108 sets last season, compiling 73 digs and 18 aces, while sophomore Jacob Faust had 124 kills in his first season with the Chargers. Both players return to add depth to a Chargers squad that features 19 members this season. 

Junior Garyd Martin (90 assists, 15 aces) returns as well for Lancaster Bible, as does junior Nicholas Wesley (26 digs) and sophomore Cameron Conkle (11 kills, 12 digs). 

Head Coach Jade Brubaker is excited for his group of returners and believes last season's record year will be beneficial in 2018.

"It's exciting to return this many players and it is a good group, both on and off the court," Brubaker said. "They're used to playing alongside one another and their success last season has given them lots of confidence heading into this year."

Welcome Aboard: Eight new players will be a part of this season's team, including juniors Nate Miller and Kurt Maysilles, as well as sophomores Benjamin Herb and Colin McCabe. Four freshmen will also be joining the Chargers, Kyran Flahive, Zach Keating, Phillip Maher and Zeke Hallman. 

Brubaker has high hopes for the incoming class, as many will have an immediate impact.

"All eight of these guys give us added depth, and some of them will start right away for us," Brubaker said. "I believe this class takes our program to another level."

Challenging Road Ahead: The Chargers have a tough 2018 schedule ahead of them, including the aforementioned matches against ranked opponents. Lancaster Bible will look to hone its play against solid non-conference opponents and take that with them into conference play.

"We want to be as prepared as we can be for conference play," Brubaker said. "We want to play tough teams and challenge ourselves, and I think this team can compete at a high level."

Coach Brubaker said this year's expectations remain the same, and the team has aspirations to win the NEAC championship. 

"The goal is always the same, and that is to win the conference championship," Brubaker said. "We would love to represent the NEAC at the NCAA Division III National Tournament."

2018 Links:
Team Roster
Team Schedule
Program History
Volleyball picked second in NEAC Preseason Poll