ROCKLIN, Calif. - The reigning NCCAA Champions were back on the court in the spring of 2026, in yet another year of transition as the university entered its second season in NCAA Division II. Alongside this transition, another new era was upon the program, as they would debut in the powerhouse-filled Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. This independent conference will fill the gap for the program, as the PacWest currently does not sponsor Men's Volleyball as a conference sport. This conference provided competition unlike anything Jessup has ever seen, as their new rivals included the likes of UCLA, Pepperdine, and others who have been mainstays in national Division I rankings.

The adjustment to a new level of competition would be on full display in the Warriors' season opener, as they would travel down south to face UC San Diego, taking a set in their opening match against the Tritons after UCSD took the first two. The Tritons would close the deal in set 4, taking the opening match by a final of 3-1. Following the opener was a four-game trip to the East Coast, with the Warriors facing New Jersey Institute of Technology twice, then two games against Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Both games against NJIT would fall in favor of the Highlanders, before the Warriors would bounce back and take both games against Sacred Heart, moving their record to 2-3 after the road trip. They would return home to face their toughest opponent yet, taking on the then #17-ranked team in the nation, Stanford University, in their MPSF debut in Palo Alto, where they battled the Cardinals in three sets, including a 30-28 second set that just fell short of Jessup's grasp.

The tides would turn for the Warriors once they got back home, as a match against Simpson would be the first at home in 2026 for Jessup, and they would take advantage, winning a dominant 3-1 match at Warrior Arena. This would be the start of a four-game win streak for the Warriors, with them rattling off wins against Hope International, Pacific Union, and another against Simpson, this time on the road.

Another slate of MPSF games was next on the agenda for Jessup, and another powerhouse was in store, as #7-ranked Pepperdine University would head to Rocklin for two games in two days against the Warriors. Jessup would make a statement in game one, taking the second set from the Waves 27-25, before dropping the next two in a 3-1 loss. Pepperdine was the victor in their next matchup by a final of 3-0, but the competitiveness and hunger of the Warriors was on full display.

Perhaps the highlight of the year on the campus of Jessup University would come on March 7, as the Warriors would host BYU in another MPSF matchup on Warrior Court. The only difference in this matchup would be the crowd they played in front of, as over 1,500 people packed the stands in possibly the most attended game of any sport in school history. The Warriors rode that energy early, taking the first set of the match 25-23 before dropping the next three. Regardless of the overall score, the Jessup crowd and the first set were important milestones in the program's young history.

Following this game would be seven games against Southern Californian opponents, five on the road and two in Rocklin, all of which would see Jessup fall short of a victory. #2 Long Beach State, CSU Northridge, USC, and Vanguard would all capture wins against the Warriors, leaving Jessup with a 6-14 record overall with six games remaining in their MPSF schedule. Jessup would catch fire at the tail end of their season, going 5-1 in the final stretch, defeating Menlo twice, splitting a two-game set with Concordia, and defeating UC Merced twice. This streak at the end of the year was enough for another huge milestone for the program: their first MPSF Postseason berth.

Before the playoffs would begin, there was one more task at hand for the Men's Volleyball team: honoring their seniors in the final home game of the season. Seniors Riley Green, Chase Schwab, Clement Osahon Jr., Jan Lopuch, Logan Marks, and JT Conway were honored for their dedication to the program and their contributions on the court. The seniors would make sure they went out with a bang, as they swept UC Merced 3-0 in their final home game of the season.

In their first season of MPSF play, the Warriors earned the #7 seed in the MPSF Men's Volleyball tournament, earning a trip to Provo, Utah to compete in their second consecutive postseason. They would face a familiar opponent in Pepperdine University, who were the #2 seed in the tournament and had risen to #4 in the nation by the beginning of the playoffs. After three competitive sets, the most lopsided of which was by six points, Pepperdine finished the match with a 3-0 win. The end of Jessup's second season would come at the hands of a national top-five program, in the postseason once again after an NCCAA Championship the year prior. The rise of Jessup's newest program was apparent to those watching last year, and has been proven on a national stage this year.

The rise of Jessup Men's Volleyball became even more apparent after the release of the MPSF All-Conference teams, as Jonas Mueller earned a selection to the All-Freshman team after his incredible season. Mueller racked up 248 kills and 278 points, finishing second on the team only to reigning NCCAA Player of the Year Jan Lopuch. Lopuch put together a spectacular senior season of his own, recording 251 kills, 306 points, and 32 aces, all of which led the Warriors. Other team leaders included Colin Marks, who racked up 842 assists over the season, and Clement Osahon Jr., who recorded a .412 hitting percentage.

In just the second season of Jessup Men's Volleyball, the program has put together an incredible resume, including an NCCAA National Championship, NCCAA Player of the Year, an MPSF postseason berth, and a member of the MPSF's All-Freshman team. The Warriors made incredible strides both as a program and in order to be recognized nationwide on the biggest stage against any opponent that comes their way.
  About Jessup University Athletics Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).