Hobus, Wetter Named to USA Volleyball's 2025 VNL Roster
5/15/2025 3:06:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – CSUN Men's Volleyball had two former student-athletes named to USA Volleyball's 30-player preliminary roster for the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL).
Former Matador All-Americans Kyle Hobus and Daniel Wetter were each named to the squad as CSUN is one of seven collegiate men's volleyball programs to have multiple former players named to the team.
Hobus, who lettered for the Matadors from 2020-24, led CSUN with a career-high 406 kills as a senior to earn AVCA All-America honors for the first time. A three-time first-team All-Big West honoree, Hobus became just the 15th player in Matador men's volleyball history to reach 1,000 career kills with his seventh kill at UC San Diego on Mar. 14, 2024. He also set season career-highs in aces (46), blocks (83), and assists (28) during the 2024 season. Hobus also earned first-team All-Big West honors in 2022 and 2023 after being named honorable mention in 2020. That season, Hobus was also named Big West Co-Freshman of the Year as well as an All-Freshman Team selection.
Wetter, a two-time AVCA All-American in 2020 and 2022, was also a three-time first team All-Big West honoree (2020-22) and a Big West All-Freshman Team selection in 2019. He ranks tied for first (Jacek Ratajczak) in CSUN history in hitting percentage at .457. Wetter was the 2020 national leader in hitting percentage at .528 which set a program record, after hitting .402 in 2019, .442 in 2021 and .469 as a senior in 2022.
The USA roster features a competitive mix of Olympic veterans, seasoned pros, and rising stars. The 2025 VNL promises high-stakes action as the world's top 18 men's teams clash over three weeks of preliminary play, with the top eight advancing to the Final Round.
The U.S. Men's National Team, under the guidance of head coach Karch Kiraly, will select 14 athletes from the long-list to compete at each stop: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (June 11-15), Hoffman Estates, Illinois (June 25-29), and Chiba, Japan (July 16-20). The VNL Final Round will take place July 30-Aug. 3 in Ningbo, China.
"We're incredibly excited about the talent and depth we have to begin this new Olympic cycle," said Kiraly. "The veterans on this roster continue to lead by example, while our younger athletes are pushing hard, bringing fresh energy and hunger. It's a powerful combination. This VNL season will be a vital part of our journey toward the 2025 World Championships and beyond."
The long list includes four Olympians, including three who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: libero Erik Shoji, middle blocker Jeff Jendryk, and setter Micah Ma'a. Opposite Kyle Ensing was the official alternate in Paris and competed on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team.
Eleven athletes on the roster have competed in previous VNLs for the U.S.: opposite Gabi Garcia, setter Quinn Isaacson, liberos Mason Briggs and Kyle Dagostino, outside hitters Ethan Champlin, Jordan Ewert, and Jacob Pasteur, and middle blockers Patrick Gasman, Matthew Knigge, Michael Marshman and Wetter.
Seven athletes have competed for the senior U.S. National Team in NORCECA events: setter Andrew Rowan, middle blocker Merrick McHenry and outside hitters Nolan Flexen, Camden Gianni, Kaleb Jenness, Zach Rama, and Cooper Robinson.
Eight athletes have yet to compete for the senior U.S. National Team: setters Tread Rosenthal and Michael Wright, opposites Hobus and Kevin Kobrine, middle blockers Shane Holdaway, Cameron Thorne, and Parker Tomkinson, and libero Jacob Reilly.
The U.S. Men are currently ranked No. 3 in the world and have medaled four times in VNL history, including silver medals in 2019, 2022, and 2023 and bronze in 2018.
#GoMatadors
Former Matador All-Americans Kyle Hobus and Daniel Wetter were each named to the squad as CSUN is one of seven collegiate men's volleyball programs to have multiple former players named to the team.
Hobus, who lettered for the Matadors from 2020-24, led CSUN with a career-high 406 kills as a senior to earn AVCA All-America honors for the first time. A three-time first-team All-Big West honoree, Hobus became just the 15th player in Matador men's volleyball history to reach 1,000 career kills with his seventh kill at UC San Diego on Mar. 14, 2024. He also set season career-highs in aces (46), blocks (83), and assists (28) during the 2024 season. Hobus also earned first-team All-Big West honors in 2022 and 2023 after being named honorable mention in 2020. That season, Hobus was also named Big West Co-Freshman of the Year as well as an All-Freshman Team selection.
Wetter, a two-time AVCA All-American in 2020 and 2022, was also a three-time first team All-Big West honoree (2020-22) and a Big West All-Freshman Team selection in 2019. He ranks tied for first (Jacek Ratajczak) in CSUN history in hitting percentage at .457. Wetter was the 2020 national leader in hitting percentage at .528 which set a program record, after hitting .402 in 2019, .442 in 2021 and .469 as a senior in 2022.
The USA roster features a competitive mix of Olympic veterans, seasoned pros, and rising stars. The 2025 VNL promises high-stakes action as the world's top 18 men's teams clash over three weeks of preliminary play, with the top eight advancing to the Final Round.
The U.S. Men's National Team, under the guidance of head coach Karch Kiraly, will select 14 athletes from the long-list to compete at each stop: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (June 11-15), Hoffman Estates, Illinois (June 25-29), and Chiba, Japan (July 16-20). The VNL Final Round will take place July 30-Aug. 3 in Ningbo, China.
"We're incredibly excited about the talent and depth we have to begin this new Olympic cycle," said Kiraly. "The veterans on this roster continue to lead by example, while our younger athletes are pushing hard, bringing fresh energy and hunger. It's a powerful combination. This VNL season will be a vital part of our journey toward the 2025 World Championships and beyond."
The long list includes four Olympians, including three who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: libero Erik Shoji, middle blocker Jeff Jendryk, and setter Micah Ma'a. Opposite Kyle Ensing was the official alternate in Paris and competed on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team.
Eleven athletes on the roster have competed in previous VNLs for the U.S.: opposite Gabi Garcia, setter Quinn Isaacson, liberos Mason Briggs and Kyle Dagostino, outside hitters Ethan Champlin, Jordan Ewert, and Jacob Pasteur, and middle blockers Patrick Gasman, Matthew Knigge, Michael Marshman and Wetter.
Seven athletes have competed for the senior U.S. National Team in NORCECA events: setter Andrew Rowan, middle blocker Merrick McHenry and outside hitters Nolan Flexen, Camden Gianni, Kaleb Jenness, Zach Rama, and Cooper Robinson.
Eight athletes have yet to compete for the senior U.S. National Team: setters Tread Rosenthal and Michael Wright, opposites Hobus and Kevin Kobrine, middle blockers Shane Holdaway, Cameron Thorne, and Parker Tomkinson, and libero Jacob Reilly.
The U.S. Men are currently ranked No. 3 in the world and have medaled four times in VNL history, including silver medals in 2019, 2022, and 2023 and bronze in 2018.
#GoMatadors
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