By the time the Dordt men's volleyball team boarded the bus home from a whirlwind January road trip, head coach Chad Hanson already had what he wanted—not just wins, but answers. 

Full Interview

Five matches in three days. Nearly 20 percent of the season packed into one weekend. Early mornings, short turnarounds, tired legs, and pressure moments. It wasn't accidental. It was intentional.

"As much as possible, as quickly as possible," Hanson said of what he hoped to learn. After graduating key pieces from a 2025 squad that leaned heavily on veteran impact players, this season's group needed to be tested early. Not overwhelmed—but stretched.

The opportunity came through relationships built over time. Olivet Nazarene head coach Dillon Dahl, a former Dordt graduate assistant, invited the Defenders to a tournament just south of Chicago. Hanson accepted—with an agreement that the favor would be returned in 2027. From there, the schedule grew. Another match near Chicago against Illinois Tech and a full weekend.

What followed was a demanding weekend that saw Dordt finish 4–1, with lessons learned in both victory and fatigue.
The trip opened Thursday night with a three-set win over Rio Grande, and less than 12 hours later, Dordt was back on the court Friday morning against host Olivet Nazarene in a four-set battle. The Defenders emerged with a win—but little recovery time.

Thirty minutes later, they were playing again.

Against Mount Vernon Nazarene, the physical toll showed. Hanson managed substitutions, shortened warmups, emphasized nutrition and rest wherever possible—but the combination of back-to-back matches and accumulated fatigue proved too much. Dordt dropped its lone match of the weekend.

What mattered more than the loss, Hanson said, was what followed.

Later against Illinois Tech, the Defenders faced adversity again, falling behind in the third set before mounting a comeback that flipped momentum and secured the match. In that moment, Hanson saw something deeper than tactics.
"It was really, really important," he said. "Those are the moments that carry forward."

The weekend also offered early clarity on roles—especially in the positions most affected by graduation.

At setter, Dordt entered the season with a new tandem in junior Joseph Jang and freshman McCullough "Mack" Unruh. Instead of choosing one clear leader, Hanson leaned into a six-two offense, an uncommon system in men's volleyball and a departure from Dordt's traditional five-one look.

"They're different athletes," Hanson said, "but the tempo, the decision-making—it's very similar." The consistency allowed hitters to stay in rhythm, no matter who was setting, and opened the door to a four-attacker offense that pressures opposing blocks and keeps options available in critical moments.

That philosophy—anybody, at any time—has become the team's identity.

It showed up in aggressive middle attacks in high-pressure points, fast sets that shifted momentum, and an offense that refuses to rely solely on one or two pins. Hanson saw it as more than strategy; it was confidence.

Defensively, freshman libero Colt Schmidt has wasted no time making his presence felt. The California native earned the jersey by asserting himself early, not just with effort, but with volleyball IQ. He communicates block adjustments, reads hitters, and plays with a fearless edge that keeps rallies alive.

"He'll sacrifice his body," Hanson said. "And he's already impacting us."

Schmidt's older brother, Cade, anchors the offense and the locker room. A vocal leader and emotional compass, Cade Schmidt sets the tone with his energy and accountability. Hanson trusts him completely—even in moments when coaches step aside and players huddle on their own.

"There's a palpable togetherness," Hanson said. "They agree to something meaningful—and then they go live it."

Health management has been a theme throughout the roster. Outside hitter Joel Van Groningen, sidelined much of his freshman year by injury, delivered a strong weekend playing six rotations and contributing in serve receive, attacking, and serving pressure. Meanwhile, captain Nicodemus Elliott continues his careful return after past injuries, balancing explosive play with long-term sustainability.

For Hanson, the beauty of this team lies in its balance—not just across positions, but across moments.

"This isn't a group that has to look for one answer," he said. "There are multiple answers on the court."

The early gauntlet was never about padding a record. It was about preparation for the Heart of America Athletic Conference, where depth, and adaptability are non-negotiable. With another road trip to Jamestown ahead and February's schedule looming large, Dordt is still very much becoming itself.

But after five matches in three days, the Defenders know more about who they are.