River Forest, Ill. – Dominican University Men's Volleyball prepares to host North Central in a high-level clash on Thursday night.

Series History vs. North Central:
All-Time Record / Streak: 5-4 / L1
-Dominican and North Central first played on 2/2/2016 in River Forest, Ill. (L, 3-2).
-Dominican is 2-2 at home against the Cardinals.
-In their last meeting, DU fell to NCC is straight sets in Naperville on 2/15/2025.
 
DU in Review:
-DU is 7-1 (1-0 NACC) on the 2026 season.
-The Stars finished the 2025 season with a 14-11 record and went 9-3 in conference.
-Dominican spent the preseason abroad in Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia to tune up for the 2026 campaign.
-The 2026 season marks the 3^rd season with Head Coach Doug Burchett at the helm. Burchett has amassed a 33-19 record since becoming head coach at Dominican.
 
Last Time Out:
 -The Stars went 2-0 last Saturday, sweeping both Wabash and Mount Union at home.
 -Sophomore Kendall Esparza totaled 23 kills and 5 aces across the two matches.
-Junior Thomas Hirsch notched 14 kills and 12 blocks on Saturday.
-Sophomore Landon Kassulke tallied 56 assists in the six sets played.


Hirsch Wins Third Straight NACC Defensive Player of the Week:
 -Junior Thomas Hirsch took home NACC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the week of 2/2 – 2/8.
 -Hirsch totaled 18 blocks, including 6 solos, across DU's three matches last week.

Shining Stars:
-Junior Ty Geschke has led the attack for the Stars, totaling 75 kills for 2.78 kills per set. Geschke has added 36 digs and 13 blocks in the early stages of the season.
-Sophomore Kendall Esparza is 2^nd on Dominican in kills with 74, which averages to 2.74 kills per set. The sophomore leads the Stars in aces with 18.
-Junior Thomas Hirsch has been lights out through the middle for the Stars, tallying 62 kills and a team-leading 47.0 blocks.
-Sophomore Landon Kassulke is the leading playmaker for Dominican, notching 247 assists for 9.15 assists per set.
-Senior Michael Greco is 5^th on Dominican in kills with 43 and 3^rd in total blocks with 21.0.
-Junior Grant Henderson has held down the backrow for DU, totaling a team-high 65 digs.
 
Familiar Faces:
-Junior Ty Geschke returns from a strong Sophomore season. Geschke led the Stars in kills (275) and kills per set (3.62), was second in aces (56), and was third in blocks (38.0).
-Graduate Student Casey Goss will assume his place as the starting opposite hitter for DU, following up a Senior season that included 165 kills, 47 aces, and 22 blocks.
-Sophomore Kendall Esparza is back to don the Navy and Gold and looks to build upon a Freshman season of 82 kills, 23 aces, 45 digs, and 9 starts.
-Senior Michael Greco, Junior Thomas Hirsch, and Freshman Landon Diaz look to solidify the middle blocking position for Dominican. Hirsch led all middle blockers with 96 kills, while Greco led the 2025 squad in blocks with 44.0.
-Senior Tyler Vrska and Junior Grant Henderson return as the DS duo for the Stars. Henderson led DU with 126 digs last season, while Vrska finished fourth with 112.
 
Scouting Report:
-North Central is 6-2 (0-0 CCIW) to start the 2026 season.
-The Cardinals have won two straight matches, including a sweep of Wisconsin Lutheran and a four-set victory over Calvin University.
-NCC hits at a .245 clip, averaging 12.1 kills per set, 11.4 assists per set, and 12.3 digs per set.