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Rockhurst University Athletics

Nick Volz

Men's Basketball

Volz leads Hawks heading into season opener

Nick Volz averaged 10.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last year.
The Rockhurst men's basketball team will tip off the 2021-22 season this weekend with a lot of uncertainty. The Hawks will be replacing four starters and 68 percent of their offense.

Coach Drew Diener will be counting on seven returnees who saw limited action last year along with six newcomers. Nick Volz is the only player returning who has started more than seven games for the Hawks.

"Outside of Nick Volz, we don't have anyone who has consistently played big minutes at Rockhurst," Diener said. "How we respond to all sorts of adversity will be critical. We have to find a group of guys who can play together with a purpose and guys who can settle into a role of being a crucial part of our team."

Volz, a 6-8 senior forward, averaged 10.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. He ranked 15th in rebounding and third in field goal percentage (59.7) in the GLVC. He has amassed 821 points and 488 rebounds over the past three seasons.

"Nick is a guy who plays extremely hard and has a great feel for the game. He's almost like having a point center. When the ball is in his hands, we feel very good about the decisions he will make," Diener said.

"He's been near the top in offensive rebounds a game (in the GLVC), which is an indicator of what kind of heart he plays with. When you have a guy with a great IQ and a great heart, it's a great place to start with a bunch of new guys in the program."

Supporting Volz on the frontline will be returnees Rich Byhre and Charlie Hoehne, along with newcomers Mikal Gjerde, Rron Thaci and Connor Renard.

"Mikal has a chance to be one of the better offensive rebounders in the league. He has a high motor to get on the glass. He is strong and athletic," Diener said of the transfer from the University of San Diego.

The backcourt will be led by junior-college transfer Damari Nixon and sophomore Jake Auer. Nixon scored over 11 points per game at Kankakee Community College. Auer averaged 8.6 points and 2.5 three-point field goals in eight games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

"Nixon will be limited on the first weekend," Diener said. "He's been hurt most of the preseason. We will need him to play more at point guard. He likes to pass. He has a great basketball IQ."

Maxim Romanov gives the Hawks another strong guard on the roster. The 6-8 junior transfer from Southeastern Louisiana is currently sidelined with an injury for several weeks.

"Maxim is a scorer, a rebounder and a defender. He is difficult to stop because of his height, athleticism and skill," Diener said.

Backcourt depth will be provided by senior Spencer Moes and a trio of sophomores in Jake Buchanan, Aidan Clarey and Nick Arensberg. Freshman guard Davit Kakushadze will have to wait until next year to play for the Hawks after attending Brewster Academy last year.

Rockhurst will face two nationally-ranked teams in the Small College National Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Hawks open the tournament on Saturday at 3:15 pm. against eighth-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas and meet 15th-ranked Northern State at 1 p.m. Sunday.

"This tournament in St. Joe will be a good experience. We will be tested right way. We will get to see some of the top teams and play on a neutral court," added Diener. "Going over to Saint Louis (last week) exposed us to a level of athlete that is even going to higher than what we will face this opening weekend, which I think will help."
 
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Players Mentioned

Nick Arensberg

#50 Nick Arensberg

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
Jake Auer

#4 Jake Auer

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Rich Byhre

#33 Rich Byhre

F
6' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
Aidan Clarey

#1 Aidan Clarey

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Charlie Hoehne

#12 Charlie Hoehne

F
6' 6"
Junior
Spencer Moes

#10 Spencer Moes

G
5' 8"
Senior
Nick Volz

#13 Nick Volz

F
6' 8"
Redshirt Senior
Mikal Gjerde

#0 Mikal Gjerde

G
6' 7"
Junior
Davit Kakushadze

#5 Davit Kakushadze

G
6' 5"
Freshman
Rron Thaci

#11 Rron Thaci

F
6' 5"
Freshman
Maxim Romanov

#14 Maxim Romanov

G
6' 8"
Junior
Connor Renard

#42 Connor Renard

C
6' 7"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nick Arensberg

#50 Nick Arensberg

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
Jake Auer

#4 Jake Auer

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Rich Byhre

#33 Rich Byhre

6' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Aidan Clarey

#1 Aidan Clarey

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Charlie Hoehne

#12 Charlie Hoehne

6' 6"
Junior
F
Spencer Moes

#10 Spencer Moes

5' 8"
Senior
G
Nick Volz

#13 Nick Volz

6' 8"
Redshirt Senior
F
Mikal Gjerde

#0 Mikal Gjerde

6' 7"
Junior
G
Davit Kakushadze

#5 Davit Kakushadze

6' 5"
Freshman
G
Rron Thaci

#11 Rron Thaci

6' 5"
Freshman
F
Maxim Romanov

#14 Maxim Romanov

6' 8"
Junior
G
Connor Renard

#42 Connor Renard

6' 7"
Freshman
C