WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats' Men's Volleyball season in 2025 was different than 2024 in one sense, because they did not participate in the NCCAA National Invitational. The tournament transitioned from an invitational tournament after 12 years to a four-team championship tournament for the 2025 season. The Sabercats unfortunately repeated their winless record from the 2024 season, as their 20-match season was marked by improvement, but was not marked by a win in the match or sets categories. They played their most competitive volleyball in the final matches of the season, forcing multiple sets into ties and extra points, but losses to Calumet-St. Joseph and Westminster kept the elusive win just out of reach.
"We only had 9 players, and only 2 of them had played club volleyball before they came here," said Head Coach Shawn Spencer. "And we'd play against teams that had gone all around the world recruiting players for their team. But they stood up. And standing in on a volleyball court is hard to do, and they played admirably this year. I could say something about everyone on the team, but just to say this - I was very proud of the effort they put in every week; very proud of the way they conducted themselves on the court, and very proud to have coached them this year.
"The theme of our year was 'strengthen the brethren' - and that was the goal, because when you come out of the tunnel with a team of 9 people against a team of 40, you need to strengthen one another because it's not going to be an easy day, and we strengthened one another on and off the court."
Isaiah Johnson was a standout from day one, as the freshman led the way offensively for the Sabercats, logging 94 kills (1.57 kills per set), 14 aces, and 14 solos blocks in the season - tying for 2nd in program history in that category. Johnson led the way for the team and for the new players, as 6 new faces rounded out a roster of 9.
The Sabercats had four seniors or graduate students play in the 2025 season: Aaron Joyner, Troy Jones, Caleb Goetz, and Josiah Scott.
SCHEDULE |
ROSTER |
STATS
AWARDS
Coach's Award: Troy Jones
Most Improved: Ian Kermott
Christian Character: Aaron Joyner-Habegger
Awards from the NCCAA National Office were as follows:
NCCAA Scholar-Athlete - Caleb Goetz, Troy Jones
STATS - PROGRAM RECORD BOOKS
Isaiah Johnson finished tied for 9th for kills/set in a season (1.57)
Isaiah Johnson finished 3rd for aces/set in a season (0.23)
Isaiah Johnson tied for 2nd for solo blocks in a season (14)
Josiah Scott finished 8th for assists in a season (220)
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