GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University men's volleyball team is set to open the 2026 season on Thursday night at home against Elizabethtown College, marking the debut of first-year head coach Jordan Robinson. Robinson shared his expectations for the upcoming season as the Knights prepare to take the court.
"The expectations I have for the team this season is really making sure we can find what our true identity is going to be, and it may take the first couple of weeks to iron out some of the differences we might have, but just making sure we can buy in. Realistically, this team has a great history of continuing to compete in the MAC and make playoffs, and that is something we are looking to continue and maybe climb up a spot or two and shock some people."
Robinson will rely on a veteran core of returning players, including seniors Cameron Birch, Riley Kodidek, Josh Clendening, and John Valencia. Birch earned All-MAC Honorable Mention honors in 2025. Also returning are sophomores Reece Dodd, Tucker Curtis, Harrison McCleery, Jayden Wacaster, and John Eisenlauer. Reflecting on the returning group, Robinson added:
"One thing I've seen from the returners this year in the small time I've been around the team and gotten to know them is they're really looking to bring the program back to the glory days of 2018 and 2019 when they were fighting for conference championships and made their first NCAA Tournament appearance."
Robinson continued, "I think a lot of them have felt a little bit of lackluster couple of seasons, and they want to leave the program on a high note."
Joining the returners are five first-year student-athletes: Bryce Lewis, Kelvin Cruz, Luka Erickson, Aidan Mackowiak, and Pete Smith. When discussing the impact of the newcomers, Robinson said:
"The one really cool thing about the newcomers we have is, although it is a smaller group, they're contributing in really big ways on and off the court, and I think they are bringing the floor of our team up a little bit higher and they're really competing, and I think the conference is going to be shocked about how many freshmen are going to get the opportunity to be game changers this year."
The Knights will open the season on Thursday evening, welcoming Elizabethtown College to Alumni Gymnasium for a 7:00 p.m. nonconference matchup.
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