The 2026 NCAA Division III men's volleyball season? Off to a wild start. Riley Norman and the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs are making sure of it.
UC Santa Cruz's Big Move
Riley Norman isn't here to play around. The senior outside hitter propelled UC Santa Cruz to a clean 4-0 start, including a statement win over No. 2 New York University. Norman's 13 kills and 10 digs sealed the deal in a four-set victory that sent a message: the Banana Slugs are for real.
Coming into the season ranked No. 10, UC Santa Cruz is poised to climb the rankings. They've handled business without even hitting a fifth set. Norman, who holds the program record for 36 kills in a single match, is back on his grind and ready for another standout season.
Marcus Pardasie: A Dual Threat
Over in NJCU, Marcus Pardasie is making waves in his new conference home. He opened the season with an 18-kill performance against Widener, hitting .342 and earning dual honors as both NJAC and CUNYAC Player of the Week. That's no fluke.
Pardasie has been a force, and his 17 kills at a .452 clip in a comeback win over Purchase College only solidified his status. NJCU's move to CUNYAC has them pegged as the preseason favorite, and with Pardasie leading the charge, they're living up to the hype.
Nazareth's Dynamic Duo
Nazareth is showing off a deadly combo with AJ Burda and Sean Frawley. Burda, the savvy senior setter, dished out 91 assists as the Golden Flyers took down Eastern and Wilkes. His leadership pushed Nazareth to a .354 team hitting percentage, and he’s not done yet.
Then there's Frawley. The freshman right-side hitter exploded onto the scene with 23 kills at a .365 hitting percentage. His 12-kill, eight-dig effort against Eastern wasn't just a debut. It was a promise of what's to come.
Karl Both Making Noise
Let's talk about Karl Both from Trine. The freshman middle blocker delivered a clutch performance against St. Vincent, with 12 kills on .500 hitting and seven blocks. Both's timely blocks in the fourth set made sure Trine sealed the win.
Both leads the MCVL with 18 total blocks and a .437 hitting percentage. With Illinois Wesleyan and No. 10 Aurora on the horizon, he's just getting started.
This season? Off to a roaring start. And from here… it's only getting better.
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Source: insidehitter.com
