2025 Men’s Volleyball Season Preview
2024 Record: 24-7, 14-4 Heart
Starters returning/lost: 1/5
Letterwinners returning: 9/7
Notable Returners:
Britten Beallis, Jr., Naperville, Ill.
(AVCA All-America, 210 kills, .448 pct., 134 blocks)
Joao Gabriel Filippelli, So., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
(Letterwinner, 231 digs, 63 assists)
Cezar Pedroso, Jr., Curitiba, Brazil
(Letterwinner, 290 assists, 43 digs)
Ben Cemeno-Castillo, Jr., Joliet, Ill.
(Letterwinner, 14 kills)
Notable Losses:
Landon Krause (All-America)
Ike Papes (All-America)
Charlie Figy (All-America)
Matt Helmick (All-America)
Notable Newcomers:
Will Tyler, Fr., Louisville, Neb.
Chase Alguire, Fr., Calgary, Alberta
Ben Brinkman, Fr., Appleton, Wis.
Brady Zell, Fr., Wales, Wis.
A nearly brand-new squad will look to continue the tradition of winning as the William Penn men's volleyball team heads into the 2025 season.
A year after guiding his squad to the NAIA National Semifinals, sixth-year head coach Luke Bentley will be leading a very inexperienced, but talented crew on the court. WPU was 24-7 last year, shared the Heart of America Athletic Conference title at 14-4, and made the deepest postseason run in program history.
Britten Beallis (Jr., Naperville, Ill., Sports Management) returns as the lone Statesmen with recognition as he won all-conference and All-America honors in 2024.
Outside Hitter
Ben Cemeno-Castillo (Jr., Joliet, Ill., Business Management) and Sam Spaude (Sr., Cedarburg, Wis., Sports Management) have waited patiently in the wings and are now getting their opportunity to shine. Cemeno-Castill tallied 14 kills last year, while Spaude had 21 along with 15 digs.
Middle Hitter
Beallis tops all returners with 210 kills (1.75 per set) from 2024 on a .448 attack percentage. He also led William Penn with 134 blocks a year ago, while also posting 13 aces.
Returner Luka DeJong (So., Knoxville, Iowa, Biology) and newcomer Ben Brinkman (Fr., Appleton, Wis., Undecided) will be vying for time as well.
Right Side Hitter
The opposite pin will feature new blood as freshmen Will Tyler (Fr., Louisville, Neb., New Media) and Chase Alguire (Fr., Calgary, Alberta, Business Management) will receive the lion's share of the workload.
Setter
Cezar Pedroso (Jr., Curitiba, Brazil, Software Engineering) is game-tested after filling in several times during 2024. The junior posted 290 assists in addition to 43 digs, 17 blocks, five aces, and five kills.
Brady Zell (Fr., Wales, Wis., Business Management) will add depth as well.
Libero
Joao Gabriel Filippelli (So., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Business Management) is set to again guide the back row after recording 231 digs (2.06 per set) last season. He also tallied 63 assists.
Luke Luckfield (Sr., Honolulu, Hawaii, Software Engineering) will serve as a competent backup after producing 32 digs a year ago.
Conference/Schedule
WPU's season opens Friday with a non-conference matchup against Governors State. The Statesmen begin their home slate next weekend with a pair of bouts versus Arizona Christian.
William Penn will again have stiff competition from within the Heart, which now consists of 14 total squads. The team's first league match is February 11 at home against Mount Mercy.
