BGSU volleyball rounded out its 2025 coaching staff with the announcement of assistant coach Lukas Pytlak and Director of Operations Dominic Bennett, who will join the Falcon bench with head coach Alex DelPiombo’s previous coaching hires, assistants Chelsi Carter and Alexa Wharton. All four additions are first-time Falcons.
Pytlak was hired as an assistant coach, coming off a Ball State playing career during which he played 89 matches and 326 sets as the Cardinals’ defensive specialist and libero. He finished his 2025 season second among Cardinals in both matches and sets played, upping his career tallies to 284 digs and 110 assists in five years.
The Lake Zurich, Ill. native experienced Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) titles for both the regular season and tournament in 2022, receiving a bid to the NCAA tournament before losing to Hawaii in the semifinals in five sets. Ball State had an overall and regular season winning record every season of Pytlak’s contribution, winning five MIVA tournament games.
“He brings a great energy and volleyball IQ that comes from his impressive career,” said DelPiombo. “His physicality will be a great addition to our staff for training in the gym, and we can’t wait for him to feel the warm welcome from our Bowling Green community.”
Bennett also hails from Illinois, playing three seasons at Illinois Wesleyan during the first three seasons of their men’s volleyball program. He played 45 matches for IWU totaling 377 assists and 100 digs as a setter from 2021 to 2023. He assisted both Normal Community West High School and Illini Elite Volleyball Club during his playing years, moving to Heartland Community College in 2024. He aided the Hawks to a 39-8 record and a third-place finish in the NJCAA D-II National Tournament, the first national placement in program history.
The Lockport, Illinois, native will be the Director of Operations for BGSU Volleyball, taking the place of current Cincinnati assistant coach Sean Drexl, who had a hand in the coaching of the team even though he did not have a direct coaching title.
“Since our first meeting, his care and passion for the sport was evident,” said DelPiombo. “Having people in our program that love what we do as much as the person next to you makes for a happy and healthy environment. In his short time here, he’s already shown how much he will contribute this year and help us operate in an efficient and first-class way.
Of the 25 people who will make up Bowling Green Volleyball in 2025, 10 of them will be new faces (five freshmen, one transfer, four new coaches), including a first-time head coach. The Falcons will try to build on recent success as a program, starting with a home exhibition match at 1 p.m. on Aug. 23, their first official game happening in Fargo, North Dakota, on Aug. 29.
