Complete PDF Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Volleyball: Lourdes University, ranked fourth in the preseason NAIA Coaches' Top-10 poll, opens its ninth season of men's collegiate volleyball this weekend as the Gray Wolves travel to Lebanon, Tenn. for the Phoenix Men's Volleyball Classic.  Lourdes will battle Judson, Reinhardt, Missouri Valley, and host Cumberland (Tenn.) on Friday and Saturday.

Head Coach Greg Reitz: In his ninth season both on the Lourdes bench, and overall coaching men's volleyball, Greg Reitz has a 160-64 (.714) record at the helm of the Gray Wolves.  He has earned six conference Coach of the Year honors during his first eight seasons at Lourdes, including the first WHAC Coach of the Year last year.  He is the only head coach in program history.

Series Notes: Lourdes is 2-0 all-time against Judson in a series that began Feb. 10, 2018 in Campbellsville, Ky.  The schools have not met since March 24, 2018, a 3-0 Lourdes sweep in the Ebeid Rec Center.  Lourdes and Reinhardt are meeting on the volleyball court for the first time ever Friday.  The Gray Wolves hold a 3-2 series edge against Missouri Valley dating back to Feb. 23, 2013.  Lourdes has won two straight against the Vikings, including a four-set victory in the last meeting on Feb. 17, 2017 in the Ebeid Rec Center.  Lourdes and Cumberland (Tenn.) will meet for the first time ever on Saturday.

Wrapping Up 2019: The Gray Wolves finished the 2019 campaign with a 24-5 record overall, and a perfect 8-0 mark in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference before capturing the inaugural WHAC tournament title.  The Gray Wolves advanced to the NAIA National Championships, posting a 1-2 record in pool play after defeating Saint Andrews while falling to Aquinas and Benedictine-Mesa.  

Scouting Judson: The Eagles posted an 11-15 record overall in 2019 while finishing 5-7 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.  Judson returns 12 players from last year's squad, led by Chase Erwin who hit .218 with a team-leading 203 kills.  Noah McConville had a team-high 234 digs last season while Jacob Wallin registered 67 blocks.

Scouting Reinhardt: The Eagles are entering their first season as a men's volleyball program and will make their debut against Lourdes.  Reinhardt is a member of the Mid-South Conference. 

Scouting Missouri Valley: The Vikings opened their season on Tuesday suffering a five-set loss on the road at 10th-ranked Ottawa (Kan.).  Mickael Massaki put down 26 kills and hit .278 while Eric Schlese handed out 30 assists.  Joao Victor Bonanoni tallied 12 digs while Vitor Santos registered four blocks.  Missouri Valley went 13-13 in 2019 and 4-6 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Scouting Cumberland (Tenn.): The Phoenix went 11-24 overall and 8-5 in the Mid-South Conference in 2019.  Cumberland returns six players from last year's squad, led by Christian Lester who had 207 kills and a team-high 74 blocks.  Jordan Pierce had a team-high 514 assists and 188 digs. 

Lourdes in Season Openers: The Gray Wolves are 6-2 all-time in their season openers.  Lourdes opened the 2019 season with a 3-0 victory at Goshen in a match that also served as the team's Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opener.

All-Americans Return: Lourdes produced four NAIA All-Americans and an Honorable Mention All-American last season.  Evan Gebert, Henrique Gehrke, and Jeff Lam all return after they were named to the All-America Team for the first time in their careers last season as does Honorable Mention All-America honoree Ricardo Gehrke.  The only departing All-American from last year's squad was Matheus Andrade.

More Honors Last Season: Jeff Lam was named the WHAC Player of the Year while Henrique Gehrke was the league's Setter of the Year and Greg Reitz garnered WHAC Coach of the Year honors in 2019.  Lam and Gehrke joined Evan Gebert and Jeff Lam on the All-WHAC First Team while Brady Boyle was selected to the WHAC's All-Freshman Team.

Nearing 1,000 and the School Record: Evan Gebert enters the season just 34 kills shy of 1,000 for his career with the Gray Wolves.  He is looking to become just the second Lourdes player ever to reach 1,000, and is 36 kills shy of record-holder Frank Craig's mark of 1,002 kills.

Record Watch: Evan Gebert also enters the season tied for the school's career service aces mark.  The fifth-year senior is tied with Jo'Lon Clark (2014-2015) with 69 career aces.  Henrique Gehrke enters the season second all-time with 1,752 assists.  The junior setter is 530 assists behind school record holder, and current assistant coach Ryan Ferkel (2014-2017).

This and That: Lourdes has posted winning records in all eight previous seasons, recording at least 15 victories per year ... the Gray Wolves are 40-29 all-time in neutral site matches and 55-21 all-time on the road.