Bethel Claims 2026 WHAC Men's Volleyball Tournament Title

MISHAWAKA, Ind. - (Box Score) For the first time in program history, the Bethel University Pilots have claimed the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) tournament title with a 3-1 win over #2 Indiana Tech on Saturday afternoon. The Pilots become the sixth #1 seed to win the WHAC tournament in seven seasons. They also punch their ticket to the NAIA National Championship tournament, earning the WHAC's autobid to the dance. This also marks the final WHAC competition for Bethel who will depart for the Crossroads League which announced earlier this spring that it will become sponsoring men's volleyball in 2026-27. 

Bethel (IN) captured the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference championship Saturday afternoon, defeating Indiana Tech 3-1 at Goodman Gymnasium for the program's first WHAC tournament title. Bethel won by set scores of 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17 in front of an announced crowd of 100.

The Pilots controlled much of the match behind an efficient offensive performance, finishing with 62 kills and a .371 attack percentage while adding five service aces and 11.5 team blocks. Indiana Tech stayed competitive with 48 kills and a .213 hitting mark, but Bethel's balance at the net and steady service pressure set the tone early and resurfaced again in the closing stretch of the fourth set.

Bethel established momentum in the opening set when McGwire Eigenrauch delivered back-to-back service aces during an early run that created separation. Thomas Dunkley and Christian Woumnga then helped close out the first set with multiple kills. In the second, Bethel again applied pressure from the service line, building another lead on the way to a 25-20 win and moving within one set of the championship.

Indiana Tech answered in the third set and avoided a sweep. Kristian Kold provided a late service ace as the Warriors rallied to a 25-23 win, and Dylan Poore continued to carry the attack throughout the match. Poore finished with 20 kills, seven digs and 21.5 points, while Kold added eight kills, two aces and 11.5 points.

Bethel regained full control in the fourth set. Ben Rosenow delivered a late ace, and the Pilots forced Indiana Tech into errors while pulling away for the 25-17 finish. Woumnga led Bethel with 20 kills on a .485 hitting percentage, adding 12 digs and 24 points. Dunkley contributed 17 kills and 13 digs, while Eigenrauch directed the offense with 51 assists and four aces.

Those numbers reflected the shape of the championship match. Bethel assisted on 57 kills, dug 50 balls and committed only 16 attack errors on 124 swings. In a final built on long rallies and repeated pressure at the net, the Pilots finished the job with their most complete stretch in the fourth set and turned it into the first WHAC tournament championship in program history.

All-Time Tournament Champions
2019: (1) Lourdes
2020: No Tournament - COVID
2021: (1) Lourdes
2022: (1) Indiana Tech
2023: (1) Indiana Tech
2024: (5) Lawrence Tech
2025: (1) Lawrence Tech
2026: (1) Bethel