While the majority of Loyola alumni playing collegiate volleyball wrapped up their seasons earlier this month, a trio of former Cubs remain in the hunt for an NCAA championship, as Matt Douglas ’15 (USC), Brady Wedbush ’17 (Princeton) and Luke Grafton ’18 (Pepperdine) will compete in the 2019 NCAA Division I Tournament set for this week.
Additionally, three other Cubs earned All-Conference/All-American accolades to close out their 2018-19 campaigns:
Hayden Boehle ’14 • UCSB • L • All-Big West First Team • AVCA Division I All-American Second Team
The 6-1 senior Boehle came back from a 2018 redshirt year to start at libero in all 28 matches for the Gauchos, ranking first in the Big West with 245 total digs (fifth in the nation) prior to the NCAA Tournament. His average of 2.47 digs per set was also second in the conference and sixth in all of Division I. Boehle completed his career ranked No. 8 all-time in UCSB history with 672 career digs and was recently named a 2019 AVCA Division I All-American, earning Second Team honors. It was Boehle’s first appearance on the AVCA list, as he was one of just two liberos to be named to the All-American First or Second Teams this year. Hayden, whose father Michael ’84 is the current head varsity coach at Loyola, is one of three Boehle boys to have played for the Gauchos, joining older brother Parker ’12 and younger brother Davis ’16.
Kyle Jasuta ’15 • Springfield • MB • AVCA Division III All-American Second Team
A grad student for Division III power Springfield College, the 6-4 middle blocker Jasuta was named to the AVCA All-American Second Team for the third straight year after completing his final season in Massachusetts with a .425 hitting percentage (185 kills), which ranked eighth in the entire country. In addition, Jasuta contributed a team-high 73 blocks and 32 service aces for the Pride.
Will Bantle ’17 • Penn State • L • All-EIVA Second Team
In his first season of action at Penn State, the 6-5 redshirt freshman Bantle earned All-EIVA (Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) Second Team honors for the Nittany Lions at libero. Bantle posted a .941 serve-receive percentage (510 of 542) and finished first on the team (second in the EIVA) with 149 total digs.
Three Loyola alums are still vying for the 2019 NCAA title with their respective teams:
Matt Douglas ’15 • USC • L
The senior libero from Pacific Palisades has been a big part of No. 4-ranked USC’s resurgence this season, leading the Trojans in total digs (180) and digs per set (1.89 dps) while starting all 26 matches in the backrow. The No. 4 seed Trojans will host No. 5 seed Lewis in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday (Apr. 30). Douglas was an All-CIF Division I First Team selection and Volleyball Magazine All-American as a senior at Loyola before graduating in 2015.
Brady Wedbush ’17 • Princeton • OPP
Wedbush has played in 23 of 30 matches this season at opposite/outside for No. 13-ranked Princeton, tallying 47 kills, 25 blocks and 10 service aces. He and the No. 6 seeded Tigers will face No. 3 Pepperdine on Tuesday (Apr. 30) after winning a play-in game against Barton. The Manhattan Beach native was the starting opposite for the Cubs and won a state and CIF-SS Division I title at Loyola, earning Offensive Player of the Year and Academic Player of the Year as a graduating senior in 2017.
Luke Grafton ’18 • Pepperdine • L
Grafton is redshirting his first season in Malibu for the Waves. No. 3-ranked Pepperdine earned a Top 3 seed in the tournament and will host No. 6 seed Princeton on Tuesday (Apr. 30) in an opening round matchup. Grafton was named to the AVCA High School All-American Second Team last year and lettered four years for the Cubs.
List of current alums playing in college:
UC Santa Barbara:
Casey McGarry ’16 • Jr. • S
Jack Truman ’16 • RS So. • MB
Ryan Pecsok ’18 • Fr. • L
Stanford:
JP Reilly ’17 • So. • OH
Cole Paullin ’14 • RS So. • MB
UCLA:
Ian Parish ’17 • So. • MB
NYU:
Adam Lee ’16 • Jr. • OH