Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Saturday, October 10
Lynchburg, VA
TBA
Liberty University Club Sports
vs
Pre-Season Conference Tournament
Liberty Division I players, including outside hitter Connor Cranage (left) and libero John Kinzler, huddle up after a winning point in Saturday's ECVA play date. (Photos by Grace Greer)
DI men’s volleyball digs, sets, spikes its way to season-opening ECVA tournament title on home courts
10/14/2026 2:53:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Liberty’s only loss on Saturday came against the Flames’ alumni team, while its DII squad finished tied for third in its four-team bracket.
In their ECVA indoor tournament debuts, Liberty University's Division I and II men's volleyball teams placed first and fourth in their respective brackets, Saturday at the LaHaye Multipurpose Center.
After losing to Liberty's alumni team in their first round of pool play, the Flames' DI squad swept the other three programs in the tournament — James Madison University, North Carolina State, and UNC Greensboro — before sweeping their semifinal rematch with UNCG and edging JMU in a three-game championship showdown to finish 5-1 on the day.
"This tournament highlighted some areas we hadn't worked on yet as well as some areas we did focus on in practice, including fundamentals," Flames first-year Head Coach Mark Bohling said. "When games got tough, the guys stayed calm and were able to break the point. With a little extra pressure (in the final against JMU), they realized it was their tournament, and they kept their composure … and were able to fight through it."
Senior outside hitter Nathan Bremmer started the third game against JMU on a four-point service run capped by an ace down the right sideline, and concluded it with a service winner on match point.
"He was finding his rhythm," Bohling said of Bremmer. "His tempo was high, and he brought a lot of energy to the team all weekend."
"After that first (setback to the LU alumni team), we kind of really came together and were able to figure out our team chemistry," Bremmer added. "We were able to get in system, and we took care of business from there. Something we did great in is our first team came out and we really put it to all the other teams, so we were able to get that second lineup in. Against every team, we were able to play our first lineup in the first set and second lineup in the second set. We did a really good job of keeping up the momentum and then getting our second line in, and they were able to take care of business as well. They did an amazing job. They stepped up to the challenge and they got it done."
Bohling said the Flames left plenty of room for improvement before they travel to Virginia Tech for a second ECVA play date on Oct. 24, when they could face some higher-level competition, including from the host Hokies.
"Looking forward, now comes the fun stuff of working on defenses and offenses, implementing a playbook, and knowing how to break (opponents' serves) and advance points," Bohling said. "Every team has their own style of play, and different teams will have bigger blockers … and outside hitters, but if we can work through the fundamentals, in time we can advance to the higher strategies to face higher-level teams. I think we're in a great position to push through this preseason to find our stride in the regular season."
The Flames ran a 6-2 formation for this first tournament, and Bohling experimented with not only two setters but also two liberos or defensive specialists on the court at the same time.
"I enjoy using a five-player attack out of an offense, using not only our front-row hitters, but also back row, to have at least five options on every play," Bohling said. "I would have liked to have had more of a back row attack (on Saturday)."
Playing without junior middle blocker Austin Leach, who suffered an injury in practice last week, Liberty experimented with more newcomers at that position. This included freshman Cole Creedle, who stepped up big according to Bohling, and junior transfer Vann-Mikael De Leon-Bohling, the coach's son.
On the outside, freshman Noah Reinmuth made a major impact platooning in with Bremmer and sophomore Connor Cranage with junior opposite hitter Justin Over rotating in with Liam Reinmuth on the right side.
"Connor is always unbelievable, and he did really, really, really well," Bremmer said. "Cole (Creedle) was very tricky, very crafty today. He did a good job of being very smart. It was awesome to see him step up to the challenge (to fill in for Leach). Justin (Over) as well, he is unreal. He's a lefty right-side hitter, and if he gets the set he's looking for, he's bouncing it on the line and that really feeds into the rest of us."
"We have such a talented team, and it truly is a blessing," Mark Bohling added. "We faced some tall guys this weekend, but our blocks were solid and our attacks were strong. Our middles are pretty tall, and our athleticism (on the outside) is on par with anyone, so we were reaching and jumping as high as our opponents."
Liberty added senior libero Andrew Milo to its defensive specialist-libero package, complementing returning starter John Kinzler.
"Those guys were amazing this weekend," Bohling said. "Typically, when John was our libero, we'd have two defenders on the court, and it was awesome. They were making amazing defensive plays, allowing us to keep volleys alive and win some points."
He said the Flames' starting lineup and reserve players showed tremendous versatility and readiness when their names were called.
"For me, an awesome thing to watch was that these boys, four or five of whom had never played together before, worked together as one," Bohling said. "The best complement was that our players were interchangeable,. You can't have a team with one rock star and the others following. These guys have really blended synergistically in their ability to work together, and I am super, super excited for the season."
Liberty's DII team lost to Virginia Tech's C team in the semifinals of the playoffs and finished 2-3 for the tournament.
"(Junior) Alex Hussar, our opposite hitter, stepped up tremendously, and was a big part of our offense and defense, and helped us out on our serving, so he played well across the board," Bohling said. "Our outside hitter, (junior) Johnny Button, showed up and gave a killer performance on the front row. He brought his A game."
In addition to former Flames player Tait Lapham, Bohling is bringing his wife, Lauren, on staff to serve as his first assistant coach, working primarily with the DII team.
"In practice, we train them as one group," Bohling said. "I brought her on because we have the same philosophy for so many years. We're teaching the same thing even though we're going to be on separate courts. Our family's just volleyball, and we love it. Our daughter was there helping to ref. She's into it, and our son's in there playing. It was a fun family weekend."
On Friday, the Bohlings invited Dr. Steven Keith, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who recently stepped down as director of Liberty's Center for Chaplaincy in the Rawlings School of Divinity and now serves as Executive Ambassador of Chaplaincy — along with his wife, Delta, and Club Sports Associate Athletic Director for Holistic Development Reese Braband — to their house for a time of dinner, fellowship, and prayer with the indoor and beach volleyball teams.
"We had met the Keiths by God's grace right when we arrived (from Texas in August)," said Bohling, who formerly served in the U.S. Air Force. "Both (Keith and Braband) said some good words over the team, offering great insight. The players were intrigued to hear them talking about their stories, and it was awesome, humbling that they would want to be a part of taking care of our men."
By Ted Allen/Staff WriterGallery: (10-14-2026) Men's volleyball hosts ECVA tournament
After losing to Liberty's alumni team in their first round of pool play, the Flames' DI squad swept the other three programs in the tournament — James Madison University, North Carolina State, and UNC Greensboro — before sweeping their semifinal rematch with UNCG and edging JMU in a three-game championship showdown to finish 5-1 on the day.
"This tournament highlighted some areas we hadn't worked on yet as well as some areas we did focus on in practice, including fundamentals," Flames first-year Head Coach Mark Bohling said. "When games got tough, the guys stayed calm and were able to break the point. With a little extra pressure (in the final against JMU), they realized it was their tournament, and they kept their composure … and were able to fight through it."
Senior outside hitter Nathan Bremmer started the third game against JMU on a four-point service run capped by an ace down the right sideline, and concluded it with a service winner on match point.
"He was finding his rhythm," Bohling said of Bremmer. "His tempo was high, and he brought a lot of energy to the team all weekend."
"After that first (setback to the LU alumni team), we kind of really came together and were able to figure out our team chemistry," Bremmer added. "We were able to get in system, and we took care of business from there. Something we did great in is our first team came out and we really put it to all the other teams, so we were able to get that second lineup in. Against every team, we were able to play our first lineup in the first set and second lineup in the second set. We did a really good job of keeping up the momentum and then getting our second line in, and they were able to take care of business as well. They did an amazing job. They stepped up to the challenge and they got it done."
Bohling said the Flames left plenty of room for improvement before they travel to Virginia Tech for a second ECVA play date on Oct. 24, when they could face some higher-level competition, including from the host Hokies.
"Looking forward, now comes the fun stuff of working on defenses and offenses, implementing a playbook, and knowing how to break (opponents' serves) and advance points," Bohling said. "Every team has their own style of play, and different teams will have bigger blockers … and outside hitters, but if we can work through the fundamentals, in time we can advance to the higher strategies to face higher-level teams. I think we're in a great position to push through this preseason to find our stride in the regular season."
The Flames ran a 6-2 formation for this first tournament, and Bohling experimented with not only two setters but also two liberos or defensive specialists on the court at the same time.
"I enjoy using a five-player attack out of an offense, using not only our front-row hitters, but also back row, to have at least five options on every play," Bohling said. "I would have liked to have had more of a back row attack (on Saturday)."
Playing without junior middle blocker Austin Leach, who suffered an injury in practice last week, Liberty experimented with more newcomers at that position. This included freshman Cole Creedle, who stepped up big according to Bohling, and junior transfer Vann-Mikael De Leon-Bohling, the coach's son.
On the outside, freshman Noah Reinmuth made a major impact platooning in with Bremmer and sophomore Connor Cranage with junior opposite hitter Justin Over rotating in with Liam Reinmuth on the right side.
"Connor is always unbelievable, and he did really, really, really well," Bremmer said. "Cole (Creedle) was very tricky, very crafty today. He did a good job of being very smart. It was awesome to see him step up to the challenge (to fill in for Leach). Justin (Over) as well, he is unreal. He's a lefty right-side hitter, and if he gets the set he's looking for, he's bouncing it on the line and that really feeds into the rest of us."
"We have such a talented team, and it truly is a blessing," Mark Bohling added. "We faced some tall guys this weekend, but our blocks were solid and our attacks were strong. Our middles are pretty tall, and our athleticism (on the outside) is on par with anyone, so we were reaching and jumping as high as our opponents."
Liberty added senior libero Andrew Milo to its defensive specialist-libero package, complementing returning starter John Kinzler.
"Those guys were amazing this weekend," Bohling said. "Typically, when John was our libero, we'd have two defenders on the court, and it was awesome. They were making amazing defensive plays, allowing us to keep volleys alive and win some points."
He said the Flames' starting lineup and reserve players showed tremendous versatility and readiness when their names were called.
"For me, an awesome thing to watch was that these boys, four or five of whom had never played together before, worked together as one," Bohling said. "The best complement was that our players were interchangeable,. You can't have a team with one rock star and the others following. These guys have really blended synergistically in their ability to work together, and I am super, super excited for the season."
Liberty's DII team lost to Virginia Tech's C team in the semifinals of the playoffs and finished 2-3 for the tournament.
"(Junior) Alex Hussar, our opposite hitter, stepped up tremendously, and was a big part of our offense and defense, and helped us out on our serving, so he played well across the board," Bohling said. "Our outside hitter, (junior) Johnny Button, showed up and gave a killer performance on the front row. He brought his A game."
In addition to former Flames player Tait Lapham, Bohling is bringing his wife, Lauren, on staff to serve as his first assistant coach, working primarily with the DII team.
"In practice, we train them as one group," Bohling said. "I brought her on because we have the same philosophy for so many years. We're teaching the same thing even though we're going to be on separate courts. Our family's just volleyball, and we love it. Our daughter was there helping to ref. She's into it, and our son's in there playing. It was a fun family weekend."
On Friday, the Bohlings invited Dr. Steven Keith, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who recently stepped down as director of Liberty's Center for Chaplaincy in the Rawlings School of Divinity and now serves as Executive Ambassador of Chaplaincy — along with his wife, Delta, and Club Sports Associate Athletic Director for Holistic Development Reese Braband — to their house for a time of dinner, fellowship, and prayer with the indoor and beach volleyball teams.
"We had met the Keiths by God's grace right when we arrived (from Texas in August)," said Bohling, who formerly served in the U.S. Air Force. "Both (Keith and Braband) said some good words over the team, offering great insight. The players were intrigued to hear them talking about their stories, and it was awesome, humbling that they would want to be a part of taking care of our men."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
L
/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's VolleyballTuesday, September 15
Monday, July 27
Thursday, May 07
Wednesday, February 18