Men’s Volleyball Closes Season with Senior Night Match Against Morningside
LAMONI, Iowa — The Graceland University men's volleyball team wrapped up its 2025 season on Tuesday night, falling to Morningside University in straight sets (25-15, 25-14, 25-22) at Shaw Center. Despite the result, the match offered an opportunity to honor the program's lone senior, AJ Rasquero, and reflect on a year of growth within the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
With the loss, Graceland finishes the season 2-24 overall and 0-19 in conference play, while Morningside improved to 13-14 overall and 8-11 in the Heart.
Graceland's most competitive set came in the third, where the Yellowjackets battled to a 25-22 final behind a late push that featured key kills from Elijah Kline and Andrew Cziep. Kline paced the Yellowjackets with 10 kills on 24 attempts, while Cziep added seven kills and was a consistent presence on the outside.
Christopher Sawyer contributed across all phases with three kills, five assists, and a block solo, while Luis Garcia anchored the offense with a team-high 19 assists and added seven digs. Kalanikapu Aona chipped in three kills, and Chase VanDellen notched a solo block.
Defensively, Rasquero led the team with eight digs in his final collegiate match, closing out a career built on steady back-row leadership and a strong presence in serve-receive.
"Big thanks to AJ tonight. Our lone senior had another solid outing and has been a great example for our guys," said head coach Eric Majors. "Playing in the Heart is a grind, and Morningside was no exception. It was a tough season in terms of the record, but the growth of this team was immense. Our coaching staff has a clear plan moving forward, and we know what it's going to take to compete in this conference. I'm excited for recruiting to really get going and confident in the group we're bringing in."
Morningside was led by Donte Jennings, who tallied 10 kills on 17 attempts (.471), while Liam Lutz and Kirby Schmalz added six and eight kills, respectively. Setter Jacob DePauw dished out 15 assists, and libero Tucker Juhnke led all players with eight digs. The Mustangs hit .293 as a team and totaled eight blocks on the night.
As a team, Graceland hit .049 with 24 total kills and 32 digs, holding strong in the third set while challenging Morningside at the net. The Jackets showed resilience after a difficult first set, trimming attacking errors and gaining momentum late in the match.
Graceland entered the 2025 season with a young core and will return the majority of its lineup for 2026. Key contributors like Cziep, Kline, Garcia, and Sawyer all return with a full year of collegiate experience in one of the NAIA's toughest conferences.
The program also honored Rasquero post-match with a framed jersey and team recognition in front of the home crowd.
"We're proud of how AJ represented this program, and grateful for the effort he gave every day," Majors added. "He helped set the tone for how we want to move forward — committed, tough, and team-first."
With the regular season now complete, Graceland shifts focus to offseason development and the upcoming recruiting cycle. Coach Majors and his staff will look to bolster the roster heading into year two under his leadership.
This match marked the final contest of the 2025 season for Graceland. The Yellowjackets will return to action in early 2026 when the next NAIA men's volleyball campaign begins.
For more information on Graceland men's volleyball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.