Riley Norman Powers UC Santa Cruz Surge

The 2026 NCAA Division III men’s volleyball season? Off and running. Riley Norman and UC Santa Cruz? Straight up surging.

Norman's Big Time Weekend

Let's talk Riley Norman. The senior outside hitter didn't just play. He dominated at the 2026 Slug Slam. Norman led the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs to a 4-0 start, including a clutch win over No. 2 New York University. 13 kills, 10 digs, he was everywhere.

UC Santa Cruz came in ranked No. 10. After this weekend, expect a climb. They haven't even seen a fifth set yet. Norman's not new to big games. Remember his 2024 record of 36 kills against St. John Fisher? Yeah, he's back.

Marcus Pardasie Makes His Mark

Meanwhile, Marcus Pardasie of NJCU is making waves. 18 kills and a .342 hitting percentage in their 3-1 victory over Widener. Two service aces for good measure. Pardasie didn't just turn heads, he grabbed the NJAC and CUNYAC Player of the Week honors. This guy? Problem. NJCU, now in the CUNYAC, looks strong, rallying for a 3-2 win against Purchase College with Pardasie smashing 17 kills at .452.

Nazareth's Dynamic Duo

Nazareth College had their own heroes. AJ Burda and Sean Frawley swept the Empire 8 weekly honors. Burda? A setter's dream. 91 assists, pushing the team to a .354 hitting percentage. Frawley, the freshman sensation, put up 23 kills with a .365 clip. These guys are setting the tone early.

Karl Both Stats and Blocks

Over at Trine, Karl Both is no joke. A freshman with a veteran's poise, Both's 12 kills and seven blocks were pivotal in taking down St. Vincent. He's already leading the MCVL with 18 total blocks, hitting at a crisp .437. With matchups against Illinois Wesleyan and No. 10 Aurora ahead, Trine better be ready.

One weekend in, and it's clear: Division III action is heating up. Watch out for these names, they're not done yet.

More from United Volleyball Network:

• Hawaii's Sakanoko Is Unstoppable
• Pepperdine vs. BYU: The Ultimate Test

Source: insidehitter.com