Lindenwood signs two accomplished club volleyball players

Two players who helped their club teams advance to the 2017 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships will continue their college careers at Lindenwood beginning in 2019.

Lindenwood coach Joe Kosciw announced during the weekend that high school seniors Phil Swartz and Aiden Weir both committed to the Lions.

Weir, a 6-foot-5 opposite from Manhattan Beach, California, competed with Team Rockstar at the recent annual national championships. The left-handed hitter also is a two-time scholar-athlete for his high school.

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“Aiden is pretty new to the game, but he has shown that he is a great athlete in his few years of playing club volleyball,” Kosciw said in a statement. “His length, physicality and quick lefty arm swing on the right side will add depth and a new aspect to that position.”

Along with Swartz helping his club team make the championships earlier this year, he finished his high school season with 454 kills on a .340 attack percentage. The outside attacker from Altoona, Pennsylvania, also is the first men’s volleyball player from his high school to earn a college athletic scholarship.

“Phil adds athleticism and length for us on the pin,” Kosciw said. “His platform is good, and he still has a lot of upside. We are excited to see what he can become once we get him in the gym.”

This is the first recruiting class for Lindenwood under Kosciw. The team’s former assistant coach was promoted to head coach during the offseason following the departure of Kris Dorn.

Lindenwood finished last season in seventh place in the MIVA and almost upset No. 7 Lewis in the conference tournament quarterfinals before losing in five games.

The Lions will open the 2018 season at the Off the Block Grow the Game Challenge presented by MotorMVB as it plays Erskine and North Greenville on Jan. 12-13 in Nashville, Tennessee.