LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball team has been ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Led by head coach Kyle Mars, the Yellow Jackets have achieved the highest ranking in program history for the second straight week.

Last week, the Yellow Jackets were ranked No. 10 by the AVCA with an undefeated record. Although BW fell to their first opponent this season, the Yellow Jackets' relentless fight against No. 4 Juniata (Pa.) made the case for their bump in this week's poll.

BW (9-1) started the week with a 3-0 victory over Misericordia (Pa.) to cap their winning weekend in the Yellow Jacket Invitational inside Ursprung Gymnasium. They traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa. for the Chatham Tri-Match, hosted by Chatham (Pa.), to face the host team and their hardest test of the season so far, No. 4 Juniata (Pa.). The Yellow Jackets swept Chatham (Pa.) to start the afternoon with scores of 25-21, 25-19, and 27-25. Against No. 4 Juniata (Pa.), BW started with a 25-23 victory before dropping the next two sets 25-27 and 22-25. BW refused to be put away as they overcame a late three-point deficit by going on a 5-0 scoring run and taking the fourth set 25-23. At the fifth set switch, BW led 8-6. This would be their largest lead of the set before battling into extra points and falling 23-25. The Yellow Jackets' first ever contest between top-10 teams lived up to the billing.

Freshman setter Ethan Gundrum (Cincinnati/McNicholas) was also named the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career. Gundrum averaged 1.5 blocks/set at the Chatham Tri-Match and averaged 11.2 assists/set against No. 4 Juniata for a total of 56 assists. He leads NCAA Division III with 11.65 assists/set.

Up Next

• The Yellow Jackets will host the 2026 BW Invitational where they will face Messiah (Pa.) on Friday February 13 at 8:00 p.m., Hobart (N.Y.) on Saturday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m., and Benedictine (Ill.) on Sunday February 15 at 1:30 p.m.