VBelo Daily: January 18, 2026

The First Point Challenge is delivering the volleyball we all deserve. We are learning so much about teams in January.

Loyola would not be denied in the opening match of the First Point Collegiate Challenge. (Loyola Athletics)

Number of the Day

2 & 4 - Yesterday was a wild day for volleyball. While the First Point Collegiate Challenge was getting tons of attention, there were some major upsets. With just a 4% chance of winning, Manhattan secured their first victory in program history! But the biggest upset goes to Erskine who travelled to Harrogate, TN with a 2% chance of winning. Two percent was all they needed to get their first win over #19 Lincoln Memorial since 2018.

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First Point Collegiate Challenge (Phoenix, AZ)

Loyola Chicago (82%) def. Stanford (18%)
3-2 (21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 26-24, 15-13)

This was such an even matchup! The biggest difference: blocks. (It should be noted that Loyola did this much damage without their senior setter, Ryan McElligott.)

UCLA (80%) def. Ball State (20%)
3-1 (22-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-20)

We knew UCLA was great, I’m not sure we knew Ball State was in the same tier this year. If anything, the MIVA is putting everyone on notice. The Midwest has no intentions of messing around this season.

UC Invitational (@ Charleston)

McKendree (53%) def. Mount Olive (47%)
3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-17)

McKendree finished their sweep by hitting .500 in the third set with 0 hitting errors. This team is going to be a problem.

Charleston (60%) def. Daemen (40%)
3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18)

Wentworth Tri-Match (@ Wentworth)

Nichols (51%) def. American International (49%)
3-1 (25-18, 16-25, 26-24, 25-23)

Wentworth Tech (69%) def. American International (31%)
3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21)

Yesterday’s Scores

Non-conference

Long Beach (62%) def. Ohio State (38%)
3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20)

Alex Kandev (LBSU) technically plays second fiddle to Skyler Varga, but if this is your second fiddle, you are making beautiful music. (This metaphor got weird, sorry.) Kandev finished with 12-0-19 (.632) to Varga’s 14-3-30 (.367).

Roosevelt (66%) def. Barry (34%)
3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-21)

Manhattan (4%) def. Harvard (96%)
3-0 (25-18, 28-26, 25-23)

Manhattan - Congrats to the Jaspers on their first win in program history. They out-hit Harvard .284 to .159 in the sweep.

NJIT (77%) def. Jessup (23%)
3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-22)

Saint Francis (94%) def. Northern Kentucky (6%)
3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 26-24, 25-22)

Missouri S&T (76%) def. Dominican (24%)
3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 30-28)

The offensive firepower for the Miners is ridiculous. Nate Meyer had 26 kills and hit .500 for the match. He also recorded his 1,000th career point and 100th career ace.

CSUN (56%) def. Purdue Fort Wayne (44%)
3-1 (35-33, 25-17, 24-26, 25-16)

CSUN got this victory without the services of Jalen Phillips. So that is both impressive and terrifying.

Penn State (50%) def. Lewis (50%)
3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22)

Erskine (2%) def. Lincoln Memorial (98%)
3-1 (29-27, 14-25, 25-19, 27-25)

Lindenwood (96%) def. Menlo (4%)
3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-19)

BYU (78%) def. UC San Diego (22%)
3-1 (25-13, 16-25, 25-21, 35-33)

AJ Cottle (BYU) was perfect. I mean it. Perfect. 10 kills on 10 swings. He also had 11 blocks for the impressive double-double.

Vanguard (82%) def. Springfield (18%)
3-1 (26-28, 25-14, 25-18, 25-18)

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Today’s Match Projections

First Point Collegiate Challenge

Ball State (60%) vs Stanford (40%)

Loyola Chicago (39%) vs UCLA (61%)

Non-conference

Missouri S&T (39%) vs St. Thomas Aquinas (61%)

Edward Waters (30%) vs Queens (70%)

Barton (61%) vs Edward Waters (39%)

Barton (41%) vs Queens (59%)