Men’s volleyball finds success early in program’s first season

Josie Barton

February 7, 2024

Chatham’s men’s volleyball team cheers before the start of its first home game in the Athletic and Fitness Center on Feb. 1.

Chatham’s men’s volleyball started its first season in program history with a doubleheader against Saint Vincent College. Unfortunately for the Cougars, game one did not go its way as they lost to the Bearcats.

The team returned strong, earning its first win in program history against Bethany College later in the day. The Cougars currently hold a 3-5 overall record following a win over Carlow University on Feb. 3, and the team is eager to continue to find its footing as a new program.

“The expectation for this year is to grow as a team. Especially a first-year program, we want to start off strong for this foundation of the future of men’s volleyball at Chatham,” Ben Shelestak ‘27 said. “Hopefully we end the season with a winning record.”

Head coach for the women’s and men’s volleyball teams Joseph Bortak and assistant coach Dan Follett are excited to begin a new season following a historic year for the women’s program.

“We want to see wins and losses. That ultimately determines the progress that we’re making,” Bortak said.

Bortak has established similar coaching and training techniques he uses for the women’s team for the men. Film sessions, training sessions, individual meetings and structured practices have helped Bortak and Follett guide the men’s team into the start of its season.

“I think it’s an exciting opportunity for guys to come in and leave their mark on the program pretty early on,” Bortak said. “I just want to continue to see this group move in the right direction together.”

Bortak hopes to string together the bond of his new team to prepare them for the rest of their competitive upcoming season. The players are hopeful for a successful season on and off the court.

“As a first-year program, obviously there are going to be some rough spots, but I think as a team we are working really well together and we can really only go up from here,” Alex Moncello ‘27 said.

Expecting positive progress from his team looking ahead to the rest of the season, Bortak believes that overcoming the hurdle of beginning-of-the-season nerves and a strong work ethic will excel his team for the coming season.

The team will be back at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Athletic and Fitness Center when the Cougars host Mount Aloysius College.

About the Contributors

Josie Barton, Sports Editor

Josie Barton ‘25 is a journalism major minoring in business at Chatham University. Josie is from the northern Pittsburgh area, transferring from Thiel College and ultimately deciding on Chatham for its city environment and inclusive and advanced communications program. She is the sports editor for the Communiqué and she also writes news, lifestyle and opinion pieces. In addition to her work on the paper, she also enjoys playing lacrosse for Chatham, spending time with her animals, trying out new recipes to cook, writing creatively and reading anything and everything. Josie can be reached best at [email protected] or via her instagram @josiejosie.b.

Kyle Ferreira, Contributing Writer

Kyle Ferreira 25' is a Media Arts major with a concentration in photography. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Kyle chose Chatham because it is a bastion of tranquility and natural beauty in the heart of the city, and because the size of the University lends itself to a more personal experience of higher education. An avid photographer, Kyle believes in the power of visual storytelling for documentary and journalistic endeavors. Kyle seeks to incorporate compelling visuals with the Communique's written stories. He considers photography and the visual arts to be an essential tool for capturing the attention of an audience and engaging them with stories. In his free time, Kyle enjoys exploring the city or hiking in the wilderness with his camera as his guide. His passion for photography motivates Kyle to perfect his craft, for there is always more to learn and new places to see.