Kingsmen volleyball players psych each other up before their April 25 Final Four showdown against Springfield College in Salem, Virginia. Though the team fell short of repeating as national champions, it’s two-year run nonetheless established Cal Lutheran as a program to be feared in DIII. Photo: Keith Lucas |
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Men’s volleyball concludes epic stretch with Final Four finish |
By Kyle Jorrey One in a million. Those were the odds against this current Kingsmen volleyball roster coming into existence. Consider Michael Stahl, who almost gave up the game before landing at Moorpark College and catching the eye of head coach Kevin Judd. Or Jordan Cooper, who in 2023 was playing 3,000 miles away at Long Island University. Or Borys Horiuk, whose family left Ukraine in 2017 in search of a better life for him and his brother. Or Ben Weber, who arrived at Cal Lutheran the same year a global pandemic brought the world to a standstill.
That all these pieces would converge at the same time and at the same small Southern California university is a mind-boggling confluence, the results of which reshaped the Kingsmen record books and put Cal Lutheran volleyball on the map. Though the team fell short of its goal of repeating as national champions, losing in straight sets to Springfield College in the Final Four of the Division III NCAA Tournament, its impact will resonate for years. |
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| Ben Weber Graduate Student | Men’s Volleyball
While Michael Stahl and Jordan Cooper might lay claim to the best seasons in Kingsmen volleyball history, Ben Weber stands alone as having the most accomplished career. A four-year starter, the Orange County native concludes his Cal Lutheran experience as the program’s all-time leader in kills (1,056) and digs (607). By sticking it out through the pandemic and forgoing the transfer portal, despite having the potential to be the focal point of an offense elsewhere, Weber remained fully committed to the Kingsmen, serving as the linchpin of the team’s meteoric rise from afterthought to DIII powerhouse. Head coach Kevin Judd described Weber as the most coachable player he’s ever worked with. “He’s been the glue to this team,” he said. “The poise in his game, the volleyball IQ, the ability to exploit any weakness in his opponent ... it’s incredible.”
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Carmen Bufkin Senior | Women’s Tennis
Bufkin is riding herd over the competition. Matched against each opponent’s best, the power-hitting senior from outside Dallas won her first 11 singles matches to start the season, a program record. Currently ranked 17th in the nation and third in the West Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Bufkin is showing the world what head coach Mike Gennette has known all along: When healthy, she can beat anyone. “She’s just stronger than everybody else physically, plus she’s got incredible drive,” Gennette said. The coach also noted Bufkin’s performance in the classroom, calling her “one of the best students at the college.” Bufkin is bound for her second trip to the NCAA Tournament, where she’ll try to put the finishing touches on the greatest individual season in Regals history by becoming the program’s first All-American.
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Luke Weschler Senior | Baseball
Call off the debate: The best pitcher in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference wears purple and gold. In a masterful performance against the West Region’s top-scoring offense, La Verne, Weschler scattered nine hits over eight innings, allowing no runs and striking out eight in a 4-3 victory Aug. 11. Adding to the triumph, the senior from Santa Barbara handily bested the Leopards’ Matt Desmarets, who was previously unbeaten. It’s May and Weschler (7-0, 2.19 ERA) still has a goose egg in the loss column. “People throw out the term a lot, but he truly is our ace,” head coach Erik Scherer said. “He’s gone out there every Friday and gone toe-to-toe with the opponent’s best and he’s outpitched those guys every time.” Weschler leads the second-place Kingsmen with 69 strikeouts and has walked just 13 batters in 74 innings.
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Danielle Diaz Sophomore | Softball
Danielle Diaz is a problem. The Regals’ breakout star leads all SCIAC players in batting average (.464) and tops the team in hits, doubles and triples. After hitting .241 as a freshman, Diaz attributes her improved performance to a change in mindset. “This season I’ve learned to reflect on previous at-bats, rather than dwelling on them,” she said, adding that she breaks down each plate appearance with senior Annalise Chavez. Though she played mostly third base in high school, the San Fernando Valley native is slotted into the designated hitter role for Cal Lutheran, which has secured a spot in the SCIAC Tournament for a second straight year. Of her 39 hits in 2025, Diaz’s biggest came last week when she delivered an eighth-inning bases-loaded walk-off single to defeat visiting Chapman, 3-2.
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Ashley Zook Senior | Women’s Golf
Zook capped off a stellar Cal Lutheran career by finishing fifth at this week’s SCIAC Championships, her best showing at the season-ending tournament since her freshman year. The senior from Simi Valley delivered the lowest three-day score (216) at the event in program history to lead an inspired team effort that saw four Regals finish in the top 20: Zook, Maya Dela Rama (ninth), Caroline Morris (17th) and Anna Poulin (19th). Longtime head coach Jeff Lindgren said Zook was the best golfer on the best women’s golf team Cal Lutheran has ever fielded, at least according to the numbers. The Regals’ year-end stroke average was 307.4, the lowest ever recorded. Asked where Zook ranks among the program’s all-time greats, Lindgren said: “She’s got to be one or two. If she’s behind, she's only behind Claire Cornejo (Class of 2023).”
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No one has spent more time in goal for the Regals than Izzy De Souza. A five-year starter ― she earned an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 ― De Souza played her 93rd and final game on April 24, making 10 saves in a loss to top-ranked Pomona-Pitzer in the SCIAC Tournament. “I’ve spent every day of this season reminding myself that it’s the last, and I’m grateful for this extra chance to play again,” she said. Photo: Logan Bury
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Izzy De Souza will be the first to admit her time in the pool for the Regals wasn’t always smooth sailing. She played under five coaches in five years and suffered a devastating injury early in 2024 that cost her most of her season.
Yet, through it all, the Irvine native remained a steadfast presence for her teammates, someone they could count on to give 100%, whether in workouts, practice or game action. De Souza, a three-time All-American (including first team her freshman year), concludes her career with the second-most saves in program history (901) and multiple single-game records. She’s the only Regal to ever record 20 saves in a single contest. De Souza plans to stay at Cal Lutheran to complete her master’s degree in sports management and hopes to coach at the collegiate level one day. Here are some questions to get to know the Regals’ showstopper: |
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Always the most international team on campus, this year’s Kingsmen tennis squad took that reputation to the extreme. The roster covered four continents and six countries. Photo: Logan Bury |
United nations of the court: Kingsmen tennis roster spans four continents |
Chipolte, Chick-fil-A helped diverse team find common ground |
By Kyle Jorrey
All college coaches are given the same impossible task: transforming a group of unique individuals into a cohesive unit. Now, imagine that challenge when your players come not only from across the country but from all over the world. Such is the reality for tennis head coach Mike Gennette, who has coached over 100 international players during his 30-plus years at Cal Lutheran.
Gennette believes the key is creating shared experiences that allow players to overcome language and other barriers. “People are people,” he said. “If you spend enough time together in various situations, you start to bond.”
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No one is more excited to see Ashlyn Flinchum graduate than opposing hitters. The defending SCIAC Pitcher of the Year is putting together a stellar senior season for the improved Regals. Flinchum (7-4, 1.89 ERA) is second in the conference with 84 strikeouts ― nearly one per inning ― and has struck out more batters looking than any other pitcher. The Ventura native allowed just two runs over eight innings in a 3-2 defeat of rival Chapman last Friday. Flinchum will get one more chance to torment batters in next week’s SCIAC Tournament.
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Might as well call Braden Gonzales “Kevlar” because no one prevents more kills. In his debut year at Cal Lutheran, the Thousand Oaks native became the first Kingsman to record 300 digs in a season. Willing to sacrifice life and limb to keep a play alive, Gonzales was absolutely everywhere on the court, leaving the team’s offensive stars to focus on winning points, which they did with regularity. Said outside hitter Jordan Cooper of the libero’s contribution: “He completely changed how we play defense. It was like night and day.”
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The second-lowest 54-hole score (208) in Kingsmen history wasn’t enough to get Adam Cartozian a medal at the SCIAC Championships in Costa Mesa. The Modesto native shot 8-under and finished fifth, just two strokes off the lead. Currently ranked 29th in the region, Cartozian has an outside shot at qualifying for the NCAA Division III Men’s Championships later this month. He is one three outstanding seniors, along with Blake Fitzhugh and Hudson Solters, the Kingsmen will need to replace this offseason.
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The Regals lacrosse team remains a work in progress, but with players like Josie Oparanaku, the future is bright. The junior from Henderson, Nevada, found the back of the net 43 times this season for Cal Lutheran (7-10). A model of consistency, the tenacious midfielder, whose twin sister Jodie is a hurdler/jumper for the women’s track team, scored at least once in all 17 games. Head coach Mac McDonough said the pre-med student is a very talented athlete who brought a combination of speed and power to the midfield.
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The way Hudson Geier was handing out dimes, she should consider a career in banking. The sophomore from Kailua, Hawaii, led the Regals in assists this year, racking up 64 in 29 games, more than any other SCIAC player. Improving as the season went on, Geier actually finished ahead of teammate Katie Knight, Cal Lutheran’s leading goal scorer, in points, 92 to 91. Though the Regals (14-15) fell to No. 1 Pomona-Pitzer in the conference tournament this past weekend, the arrow is pointed up, and Geier is a big reason why.
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Talk about saving your best for last. Darrin Parham set three PRs in three consecutive attempts to place third in the triple jump at last weekend’s SCIAC Track and Field Championships. His top mark of 14.03 meters was good enough for seventh all-time in program history. Head coach Brett Halvaks described the moment succinctly: “It was awesome.” A defensive lineman for the football team, the junior from San Diego improved his triple jump mark by a full meter this season. Parham is one to watch come 2026.
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Our rundown of the can’t-miss action at home |
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Baseball vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps |
Backdrop: Picked to finish fourth in the SCIAC preseason coaches’ poll, Cal Lutheran (26-10) has an outside chance to win its first regular-season title since 2017. Standing in the way are the Stags, who are in town Saturday for a doubleheader. The Kingsmen, who also need an assist from Redlands in its three-game set with No. 1 La Verne, are led by three outstanding starting pitchers: Luke Weschler, Leo Bristow and Frank Willius. The trio must be in top form to get past CMS, which leads the conference with 52 home runs; the Kingsmen, by comparison, have just 11. Five of those belong to shortstop Josh Quinn, who has 11 RBIs over his last eight contests. Baseball fans would love a SCIAC championship game showdown between Cal Lutheran and La Verne. Photo: Logan Bury
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Backdrop: After a strong start, the Regals (18-12) have fallen on hard times in recent weeks. Having lost five out of six ― four of those by two runs or less ― Cal Lutheran needs to come up big this weekend against conference-leading Redlands to avoid a SCIAC Tournament play-in game. The Regals continue to see prolific production from a pair of sophomore stars: first baseman Jessica Waters and designated hitter Danielle Diaz. Waters is up to 10 home runs to go along with 33 RBIs and a conference-leading .892 slugging percentage. The team’s combination of pitching and power should make the Regals a hard out come playoffs, but if the offense doesn’t get clicking soon, they might not be around long enough to find out. Photo: Logan Bury
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The Kingsmen and Regals went all out for this year’s Cal Lutheran Cares Day on April 9, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars for university athletics programs. Though men’s basketball topped the fund-raising leaderboard, the most creative effort had to go to men’s volleyball. The team produced a 4-minute horror flick for Instagram dubbed “The Cal Lu Witch Project,” starring 2024 graduate Ryker Linn. Watch it for yourself ... if you dare.
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Former Kingsmen standout Vinny Lopez relishes his role in the San Diego Padres’ front office. “Petco Park is one of the best ballparks in the game,” he said. “It is a blessing to work in that stadium with some of the best talent in the world. I do not take it for granted.” Photos: Jerry Espinoza |
As director of defense, baserunning and instruction for the San Diego Padres, it’s Vinny Lopez’s job to ensure the organization knows how to teach winning baseball. It’s a skill he picked up at Cal Lutheran, playing for Kingsmen coaching great Marty Slimak and assistant Erik Scherer, the team’s current skipper.
“Slim and Scherer gave me an opportunity and believed in me,” said Lopez, who is originally from Temple City. “They coached us hard, held us accountable and helped me learn that nothing comes easy.”
After graduating in 2008, Lopez played pro baseball in France before returning to the U.S. to pursue his dream as a coach. Since then, he’s spent time at USC and in the majors working for the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and now, the Padres, where he’s been since 2016.
“I travel the minor league system to help our coaches and players develop and become the best versions of themselves,” he said. “In player development, we are tasked to accelerate the gifted and make sure they can help us win in the big leagues as soon as possible.” Among the current stars he’s helped develop: Jackson Merrill, James Wood and CJ Abrams. Though he doesn’t make it back to Thousand Oaks often, Lopez was able to attend last year’s alumni game and said he was humbled when Scherer asked him to address the team.
“The best advice I have for young people is to humble yourself and understand you have to start at the bottom and earn it every day,” he said. “I started as an unpaid intern. I slept on a couch in a clubhouse in Hickory, North Carolina. I was a grinder that listened, learned and when I got my opportunity to lead, I was ready.” Lopez makes his home outside Phoenix with his wife, Christina.
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© 2025 California Lutheran University |
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