The Chicago Untouchables have announced their hiring of new General Manager Andrew J. Lee for the 2022 NVA Season.

Lee comes into this role with prior experience in the NVA, having worked alongside Team Freedom Owner Justin Beaumont and the boys from New Jersey since their introduction as a professional team in the NVA back in 2019. He has also managed his last team, the ‘Catalina Wine Mixers’ (@catalinawinemixers), which has competed in the USAV AA competition since 2017. Some notable NVA athletes have previously played with this squad, including Matt Buffum (MB) and Dante McCoy (OH/Opp).

The addition of Lee comes after previous GM, Mitch Wiskerchin, has decided to step back from this position to spend more time with his wife and family. There is still potential for Wiskerchin to remain on the roster as a setter this season. He proved to be an essential asset to the team in that role, as he quarterbacked the Untouchables squad, almost pulling off the upset in a five-set thriller against Southern Exposure during the NVA Quarterfinals last season.

Lee will have his work cut out for him this season as he works to get the roster filled before the upcoming opening event as the Untouchables saw five of their East Coast players, including Matt Buffum, decide to join Team Freedom in 2022. Andrew is confident he can get the job done as he plans to bring in some recruits from his home state of PA. In addition to that, the team will hold tryouts again at the end of this month. The Untouchables still have a solid group of returners, including Paul Bilanzic, Will Ragland, Moises Lopez, Eddie Keesecker, JJ Melendez, and Nick Ramos. They are all eager to tap into more of the raw volleyball talent that Chicago offers.

“I’m excited to come into next season with a new team! It’s my goal to develop the chemistry between all the players that’s different from all the other teams in the league,” shared Lee. Be sure to give Andrew Lee (@drewwwjlee) and the Chicago Untouchables (@chicago_untouchables) a follow on Instagram to stay up to date with the team and be first to hear when tryout dates are confirmed.

“Volley On With the NVA!”

-NVA Staff Writer

Set #1 – Matadors 25, Tyrants 23

Both teams sided out to a 1-1 tie. At 3-3 Matadors scored on a OPP block point and took the lead 4-3. Matadors and Tyrants continued to side out to a 7-7 tie. Then Matadors took a two point lead on a MB block point to 9-7. At 12-11 the Matadors added to their lead with a Tyrant’s hitting error and two OH kills to 15-11. Tyrants sided out on a MB block point to 15-12. Tyrants’ OH block point cuts the Matador lead to 15-14; and then the Tyrants tie on a Matador hitting error. Matadors increased their lead to 18-15 with two OH kills. Tyrants cut the lead by one with an OH kill to 19-17. Matadors bounce back with two OH kills to 21-17. Tyrants called a timeout, then sided-out to 21-18. Matadors score on their serve with two more OH kills to 23-18. Tyrants sided-out to 23-19. A Tyrants serving error gave the Matadors set point to 24-19. Tyrants sided-out with an OH block point to 24-20. Then added another point with an OH kill 24-21. A Matador hitting error cut the lead to 24-22. Tyrants served an ace to 24-23. Matadors called a timeout. Tyrants serving error gave Matadors the win.

Matadors – 12 Kills, 2 Blocking Point, 11 Opponent Errors; 92% Reception and 60% Hitting.

Tyrants  – 2 Aces, 14 Kills, 1 Block Point, 6 Opponent Errors; 100% Reception and 48% Hitting.

Set #2 – Tyrants 25, Matadors 22

Matadors score the first two points with an OH kill and OPP block point for a 2-0 lead. A Tyrants’ side-out and Matador OH hitting error ties the score at 2-2. Matadors sided-out and followed up with a OPP block point to a 4-2 lead. Tyrants sided-out and a Matador passing error tied the score at 4-4. Matadors took the lead to 5-4. At 8-7 a Tyrants’ hitting error increased the Matadors lead 9-7. Both teams continued to side-out until 12-11. Tyrants’ OH block point tied the score at 12-12. Tyrants took the lead on an MB kill and double by the Matador setter to 15-13.

Matadors called a timeout. Tyrants sided-out to maintain their lead at 16-14. Tyrants increased their lead with a OH kill and block point to 21-17. Matadors sided-out with a OH kill to 21-18. Matadors cut the lead to 23-21 on a Tyrants net error, then 23-22 from an OH kill. The Tyrants  won the set point after a dig and an OH kill.

Tyrants  – 1 Aces, 14 Kills, 4 Block Point, 6 Opponent Errors; 100% Reception and 47% Hitting.

Matadors – 13 Kills, 2 Blocking Point, 7 Opponent Errors; 85% Reception and 48% Hitting.

Set #3 – Matadors 25, Tyrants 17

Matadors took an early 3-1 lead with two OH kills and one OPP kill. A Matador OPP hitting error tied the score at 3-3. Tyrants took a three point lead on a setting error, double by the OH and MB block point to 6-3. Matadors sided-out to 6-4 and Tyrants hitting error cut the lead to 6-5. Matador overpass led to a Tyrants’ OH kill to extend the Tyrants’ lead to 9-6. Matadors sided-out and then scored a point from an OPP kill to cut the Tyrants’ lead to 9-8. A Tyrants’ block point and OH kill gave them back the 3-point lead to 12-9. Matadors score two points in a row on Tyrant hitting error and OPP kill to 12-11. At 14-13 Matadors score points after a Tyrant’s overpass led a MB kill, an OH kill, ace; and another OH kill after another Tyrants’ overpass to take a 17-14 lead. Tyrants called a timeout. Matadors continued to add to their lead with an OH kill, OPP kill and Tyrants hitting error to 20-14. Tyrants sided-out to 20-15 and score another point to cut the lead to 20-16. Two Tyrants hitting errors and MB block point increased the Matador lead to 24-17. Tyrants called their second time out. After a Matador serve the Tyrants’ hitting error scored the winning set point for the Matadors.

Matadors – 1 Ace, 11 Kills, 1 Blocking Point, 12 Opponent Errors; 92% Reception and 37% Hitting.

Tyrants  – 9  Kills, 2 Block Point, 6 Opponent Errors; 90% Reception and 30% Hitting.

Set #4 – Tyrants 26, Matadors 24

Matadors started with a 2-0 lead on OH and OPP kills. After Tyrants sided-out Matadors added to their lead on a Tyrants’ hitting error to 4-1. At 6-3 Tyrants sided out on an OH kill to 6-4. A Tyrants’ MB block point cut the lead to 6-5. Matadors sided-out and Tyrants’ hitting error brought the Matador lead back to three points at 8-5. At 11-9 Tyrants score on a OH kill and MB kill to an 11-11 tie. Matadors sided-out and took a one point lead to 12-11. After both teams sided-out to 17-17 Tyrants retook the lead to 18-17 on an OH kill. Matadors called a timeout. Tyrants’ service error tied the score at 18-18. Matadors retook the lead with an MB kill to 20-19. Tyrants MB block point tied score at 21-21. Matadors sided-out with OH kill to 22-21. Tyrants sided-out with MB kill to 22-22. Matadors took lead again on an OH kill 23-22. Tyrants sided out to tie the score again 23-23. Matadors called a timeout. Tyrants serve caused a Matador overpass that led to a Tyrants’ MB kill that gave the Tyrants the 24-23 lead. Matadors sided-out from a Tyrants’ hitting error to tie the score 24-24. Tyrants OH kill and MB block point closed out the set for a 26-24 Tyrants’ win.

Tyrants  – 19 Kills, 3 Block Point, 4 Opponent Errors; 100% Reception and 50% Hitting.

Matadors – 10 Kills, 2 Blocking Point, 12 Opponent Errors; 76% Reception and 43% Hitting.

Set #5 – Matadors 20, Tyrants 18

Each team sided-out to a 2-2 tie. Matadors took a two point lead with an Opp kill and OH kill to 4-2. Matador serve, Tyrants overpass led to a MB kill for 6-3 Matador lead. Tyrant hitting error added another point for the Matadors to 7-3. Matadors hold on to their lead at 11-7. Tyrants sided-out with MB kill to 11-8. Tyrants score on an OH kill cut lead to 11-9, then follow with an ace cut the lead again to 11-10. Matadors sided-out with OPP kill to 12-10. Tyrants sided out with OH kill to 12-11. Matadors’ OH scores with an acrobatic back handed touch kill to 13-11. Tyrants score a point on the Matadors service error to 13-12. Tyrants dig leads to a OH kill to tie the score at 13-13. Matador hitting error gave Tyrants 14-13 lead. Matadors tie score with OH kill to 14-14, then take lead on another OH kill to 15-14. Tyrants tie score with OH kill. Tyrants hitting error gave Matadors another lead to 16-15. Tyrants sided out to tie 16-16 OH kill.

Matadors netted that gave Tyrants a 17-16. Matadors called time out, then sided out on OPP kill to 17-17 tie.

Tyrants’ hitting error gave Matadors 18-17 lead. Tyrants sided out to tie 18-18. Matadors sided out on OH kill and then won the set and match from a Tyrants’ hitting error.

Matadors – 15 Kills, 1 Blocking Point, 4 Opponent Errors; 94% Reception and 60% Hitting.

Tyrants  – 1 Aces, 12 Kills, 5 Opponent Errors; 93% Reception and 57% Hitting.

Finally, establishing a robust roster to enter into the league with, the Tyrants are primed and ready for their first-ever NVA event in November 2020. Their players show the depth of midwestern, southern volleyball known for their tenacity and grit. Without a doubt, the rest of the league will need to be on guard when the Tyrants lineup is on the court.

At the Outside Hitter position, the Tyrants are led by College Club Champion Eddie Keesecker and four-time collegiate All-American and Division 3 National Champion Tim Ferriter. They also have Kean University alumni Jake Milnazik and Virginia Tech Club alumni Dan Nugent, brother of Team Freedom’s Chris Nugent.

Their Opposites include  a CVC All-Conference player from Thiel University, Dante McCoy, Illinois native big-man Elvis Minyakov, and NJIT alumni Piotr Namiotko.

In the Middle, they tout Race Munger, All-Great Lakes Conference First Team player Sam Kull from Saint Xavier University, All-American blocking king Thomas Burrell, and Mathew Buffum, who is considered as being the most dominant middle blocker in Elmira College’s program history.

The Setters are led by Ryan Kenny, who has played professionally in England, Germany, and Slovakia. The Tyrants also bring forward Ian Kapp from Kean University and Warner University alumni Mitch Wiskerchen.

Finally, the Tyrants have their main men in the backcourt Ryan Alu, who played libero for Saint Francis University as well as Team Freedom’s Manager Justin Beaumont!

The Tennessee Tyrants will be making their debut this November 5-8, when the NVA convenes in Salt Lake City, Utah.. Make sure to catch all these players in action on NVA Live TV!