Senior outside hitter Jackson Tyler helped the men’s volleyball team secure an AMCC regular season conference championship last year. This year, he’s hungry for another conference title along with the program’s first National Championship.
Born and raised in Noblesville, IN, Tyler’s love for volleyball didn’t develop until he was older.
“My background in volleyball started after I was cut from a Chicago basketball team in eighth grade because of being undersized,” Tyler said. “That’s when I tried volleyball. I fell in love immediately because I could jump pretty high.”
Standing at 6’2”, he is the perfect size for an outside hitter. During his senior year of high school, he not only became team captain, but was also named to the all-state and all-academic teams.
A key component to a great volleyball team is a consistent outside hitter, and Tyler excels in this area. This season, Tyler has nearly three kills per set, a .215 hitting percentage and 58 digs under his belt, and he is showing no signs of stopping.
Last Saturday, the Tigers beat Mount St. Joseph in a close five set win, with Tyler getting 17 kills. In the fifth set (a game to only 15, win by 2 points), Tyler brought the team to an 11-11 score after being down. These stats clearly indicate the long hours Tyler has committed on and off the court for the Tigers.
Tyler has had a history of injuries during his career, but he learned to become a great teammate through his injuries.
“It’s a joy to have Jackson on our team. He’s a great teammate and volleyball player,” Collin Buelow, an outside hitter and teamate of Tyler’s, said.
Tyler thought it was an easy choice to commit to Wittenberg. A division three school provides a balanced life for a student athlete and he took advantage of this opportunity. Tyler is majoring in finance with a minor in marketing. He’s also involved with Greek life. Balancing activities on campus can be difficult, but Tyler prioritizes education and volleyball.
Back in a 2018 spotlight with The Torch, Tyler said that he believed volleyball is the reason he pushes to be excellent in all aspects. He says that through volleyball, he’s become mentally stronger, committed to his priorities, and keeping it persistent.
As three-year letterman in volleyball, Tyler clearly has shown his key role on the team. He accomplished his goal back in 2019 of securing the school’s first AMCC Championship. Now, he and his team are hungry to win the conference again and secure a bid for the NCAA Division III tournament in April. Until then, Tyler and the Tigers will host the Raiders of Mount Union on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
