Posted: Jan 23, 2026
2026 Men’s Volleyball Season Preview
2025 Record: 16-11 (13-6 Heart)
Starters returning/lost: 5/1
Letterwinners returning/lost: 16/4
Notable Returners:
Britten Beallis, Sr., Naperville, Ill.
(NAIA All-America, AVCA All-America, Heart Middle Block of the Year, 238 kills, .425 pct., 107 blocks)
Joao Gabriel Filippelli, Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
(All-Heart, 306 digs, 66 assists)
Brady Zell, So., Wales, Wis.
Starters returning/lost: 5/1
Letterwinners returning/lost: 16/4
Notable Returners:
Britten Beallis, Sr., Naperville, Ill.
(NAIA All-America, AVCA All-America, Heart Middle Block of the Year, 238 kills, .425 pct., 107 blocks)
Joao Gabriel Filippelli, Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
(All-Heart, 306 digs, 66 assists)
Brady Zell, So., Wales, Wis.
(All-Heart, 921 assists, 192 digs)
Ben Cemeno-Castillo, Sr., Joliet, Ill.
(All-Heart, 359 kills)
Notable Losses:
Andrija Miranovic
Luke Luckfeild
Notable Newcomers:
Emilio Spanner, Sr., Sint Eustatius
Marton Sebestyen, Fr., Gyenesdias, Hungary
With a more experienced roster returning from last season, the William Penn men's volleyball team begins the 2026 campaign ranked No. 15 in the NAIA preseason national poll.
After making it to the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament in 2025, seventh-year head coach Luke Bentley looks to step back onto the NAIA National Championship stage.
Outside Hitter
Ben Cemeno-Castillo (Sr., Joliet, Ill., Business Management) is returning from an all-Heart performance last year, while Sam Spaude (Grad., Cedarburg, Wis., Master's of Sports Management) is back off an injury. Cemeno-Castillo put up 359 kills and 20 aces, while Spaude had 51 in six matches.
Tommy Fellows (So., Shorewood, Ill., Exercise Science) also returns with 74 kills as he looks for time on the court.
Middle Hitter
Britten Beallis (Sr., Naperville, Ill., Business Management) tops all returners with 238 kills from 2025 with a .425 attack percentage. He also led the Statesmen with 107 blocks.
Returner Ben Brinkman (So., Appleton, Wis., Sports Management) will be vying for time as well, having posted 157 kills and 98 blocks a year ago.
Right Side Hitter
The opposite pin will feature new blood as freshman Marton Sebestyen (Gyenesdias, Hungary, Business Management) and returner Emilio Spanner (Sr., Sint Eustatius, Sports Management) look to make their first court appearance.
Josh Bluhm (So., Lockport, Ill., Software Engineering) is also returning with experience from the 2025 season with 153 kills, 46 blocks, and 14 aces.
Setter
After a standout freshman season, Brady Zell (So., Wales, Wis., Business Management) returns as a key facilitator after finishing the 2025 season with 921 assists, 192 digs, 42 blocks, and 12 aces.
Libero
Joao Gabriel Filippelli (Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Business Management) is set to again guide the back row after recording 306 digs (3.12 per set) last season. He also tallied 66 assists.
Conference/Schedule
WPU's season opens Friday with a non-conference matchup against (RV) Lourdes before taking on No. 12 Hope International Saturday.
The Statesmen begin their home slate February 17 against Heart competitor Clarke. William Penn will again have stiff competition from within the Heart, as six of the 14 Heart teams are currently ranked in the NAIA.
Ben Cemeno-Castillo, Sr., Joliet, Ill.
(All-Heart, 359 kills)
Notable Losses:
Andrija Miranovic
Luke Luckfeild
Notable Newcomers:
Emilio Spanner, Sr., Sint Eustatius
Marton Sebestyen, Fr., Gyenesdias, Hungary
With a more experienced roster returning from last season, the William Penn men's volleyball team begins the 2026 campaign ranked No. 15 in the NAIA preseason national poll.
After making it to the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament in 2025, seventh-year head coach Luke Bentley looks to step back onto the NAIA National Championship stage.
Outside Hitter
Ben Cemeno-Castillo (Sr., Joliet, Ill., Business Management) is returning from an all-Heart performance last year, while Sam Spaude (Grad., Cedarburg, Wis., Master's of Sports Management) is back off an injury. Cemeno-Castillo put up 359 kills and 20 aces, while Spaude had 51 in six matches.
Tommy Fellows (So., Shorewood, Ill., Exercise Science) also returns with 74 kills as he looks for time on the court.
Middle Hitter
Britten Beallis (Sr., Naperville, Ill., Business Management) tops all returners with 238 kills from 2025 with a .425 attack percentage. He also led the Statesmen with 107 blocks.
Returner Ben Brinkman (So., Appleton, Wis., Sports Management) will be vying for time as well, having posted 157 kills and 98 blocks a year ago.
Right Side Hitter
The opposite pin will feature new blood as freshman Marton Sebestyen (Gyenesdias, Hungary, Business Management) and returner Emilio Spanner (Sr., Sint Eustatius, Sports Management) look to make their first court appearance.
Josh Bluhm (So., Lockport, Ill., Software Engineering) is also returning with experience from the 2025 season with 153 kills, 46 blocks, and 14 aces.
Setter
After a standout freshman season, Brady Zell (So., Wales, Wis., Business Management) returns as a key facilitator after finishing the 2025 season with 921 assists, 192 digs, 42 blocks, and 12 aces.
Libero
Joao Gabriel Filippelli (Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Business Management) is set to again guide the back row after recording 306 digs (3.12 per set) last season. He also tallied 66 assists.
Conference/Schedule
WPU's season opens Friday with a non-conference matchup against (RV) Lourdes before taking on No. 12 Hope International Saturday.
The Statesmen begin their home slate February 17 against Heart competitor Clarke. William Penn will again have stiff competition from within the Heart, as six of the 14 Heart teams are currently ranked in the NAIA.
