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WVC Hall of Fame |
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The WVC Hall of Fame was founded on the 10th anniversary of the WVC in April of 2002. It was started to recognize former WVC standouts and contributors. Every year the WVC will elect anywhere from one to three new members of the Annual Hall of Fame class. The annual class will be determined from a two-part vote from current Hall members (50%) and the WVC Hall of Fame committee (50%) - comprised of former WVC players and coaches.
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Dave Boos, Jeff Hink, Hugh Hernesman, Brian Sharkey |
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Rob Eifler |
 Rob Eifler may only have been a member of the Marquette men's volleyball team from 1997-2000, but his impact has carried on at the university and the Wisconsin Volleyball Conference every year since his departure.In his four years at Marquette, Eifler helped lead the Golden Eagles to a pair of regular season conference championships and a second place finish at the state tournament. In 1999, he was named the conference MVP and was given statistical awards for hitting percentage and kills per game that year. He also took Marquette to its first Top 10 national finish in 1999 and a second place finish in the Midwest 10 in 2000. He was also a three-time WVC All-Conference member and three-time WVC All-Star. At 6'2", Eifler was never the biggest man on the court, but his ability to put the ball on the floor, pick balls up on defense and shut down big hitters at the net, made the Case High School graduate a force in the WVC. He became the face of Marquette volleyball as soon as he stepped on the court his freshman year when he was even taunted at the state tournament for being so good, so young. He never took credit for much of the team's success. His game did the talking for him, hitting through the usual triple block, even when he was injured in his final year. Since Rob's arrival at Marquette, the program has taken giant steps forward. Eifler was pivitol in forming the foundation of the Midwest10 Conference and the foundation from which many later president's of Marquette's volleyball program have built their team's on. Through hard work, dedication, and a lot of good times, Rob earned the respect that he earned on and off the volleyball court and is hearby inducted in the Wisconsin Volleyball Conference as a member of the Class of 2005. |
Josh Wagner |
 Josh Wagner was a member of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh men’s volleyball team from 1997-2000. In his four years, UW-Oshkosh captured four Wisconsin Volleyball Conference state championships and competed for four consecutive years at the NIRSA Division I national tournament, highlighted with a 5th place finish in 1998.Individual accolades also piled up during his career. Never playing organized volleyball before his freshmen year, Wagner was named the WVC Division II most-valuable-player before moving up to varsity in 1997. In 1998, he was sidelined for most of the season battling a thumb injury before helping the Titans to their best finish ever at the Division I NIRSA championship. 1999 began Wagner’s dominance. He was named both WVC and Midwest 10 Conference First-Team. In 2000, Wagner capped his career leading the Titans to an unprecedented fourth straight WVC championship. Entering the tournament as the fourth seed, UW-Oshkosh surprised everybody by going undefeated in the tournament. He was named Midwest 10 First-Team and the WVC most-valuable-player. Currently Wagner sits in the top ten at UW-Oshkosh in career kill attempts (1,678 – 8th), kills (953 – 7th), blocks (387 – 2nd) and is the leader with a .406 hitting percentage. He led the Titans with 436 kills and 192 blocks in 2000. Through hard work and dedication Wagner became one of the best middle blockers in the history of the WVC and Midwest 10 Conference. Learning the game as freshmen, Wagner became one of the best all around players ever at UW-Oshkosh, playing both front and back row. He was well liked by his teammates because of his unselfishness and ability to bring the best out of everyone around him – both on and off the court. |
Mike Ebbert |
 Mike Ebbert was a member of the UW-Whitewater men's volleyball team from 1993-1994. He became known not only for his offense but his overall presence at the net. Ebbert helped establish UWW as a team that would be a force to be reckoned with in the WVC. |
Greg DeJong |
 Greg DeJong was a member of the UW-LaCrosse men’s team from 1991-1994 as a 4-year starter on the rightside in addition to serving his team as a captain for the 1993 & 1994 seasons.
In 1991 & 1992 UW-LaCrosse competed in the (Northern Intercollegiate Volleyball Conference (NIVC). While in the NIVC, Greg helped lead the Eagles to an undefeated regular season in 1992 and a 3rd Place finish at the season ending Conference Tournament.
Greg competed in the WVC during the 1993 & 1994 seasons. He was in integral part in the team’s 2nd place finish in the WVC inaugural season. In 1994, Greg helped UW-L to a regular season 1st Place finish and a 2nd Place finish in the WVC State Championships.
During three of Greg’s four seasons UW-LaCrosse competed at the NIRSA Championships. He culminated his career with a 5th place National finish at Arizona State.
Greg was the ultimate teammate. He always placed team accomplishments ahead of individual achievements. In 1994, Greg won the WVC’s MVP Award. He was a go-to player in all respects of the game. Greg’s serve receive passing allowed his team to sideout at a very proficient rate. His ability to terminate on offense from the right side was as effective out of the front-row as well as the back-row. His jump serve lead to many easy points, and his defensive play was second to none in the conference.
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Paul Hammen |
 As a member of the UW Oshkosh Men’s Volleyball team from 1994 – 1998, Paul Hammen established himself as one of the premier middle blockers in WVC history. During this time, Paul was a key figure in the team’s rise to prominence on the national collegiate volleyball scene.
While dominating the middle for Oshkosh, the Titans collected 2 WVC State Championships (’97-’98) and a NIRSA Division II National Championship (’96).
In his final season, Paul amassed 471 kills and a .478 hitting percentage to help the Titans to a 5th place finish in the 1998 NIRSA Division I Championship. Along the way, Paul was named WVC 1st-Team All-Conference twice (’97-’98), 2nd-Team once (’96), WVC Conference Tournament MVP twice (’97-’98) and NIRSA Division II All-American once (’96).
Aside from all of the accolades, Paul defined what it meant to be a teammate. He only knows one level of effort – 110%. Whether it was at the national tournament or practice, you could count on Paul to give you his all every time. He’s a man of few words, but his lead-by-example style made him popular with his teammates and opponents alike. What’s more important, his presence on the court made those around him better players and better people.
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Jim Boos |
 Jim Boos, a co-founder of the UW-Oshkosh Men’s Volleyball program, participated in the Wisconsin Volleyball Conference from 1993-1994 and from 1996-1998 at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. During the years that Jim competed at UW-Oshkosh, he took the Titans to the top of the WVC and established them as a national powerhouse.
Jim was a member of the Titan’s first WVC State Championship team in 1997, and repeated the feat in 1998. Jim led UW-Oshkosh to the 1996 NIRSA Division II National Championship, the only national title ever won by a WVC team. In 1998, he led the Titans to a fifth place finish in the Division I NIRSA National Championships, one of only two WVC teams to ever finish this high.
Jim was named WVC First-Team All-Conference four times in three different positions. Jim received the nod as a setter, a leftside hitter and as a middle blocker. In 1997 he was named the WVC’s Most Valuable Player, and was also selected to the very first WVC State Championships “All Tournament Team” in 1992.
Jim was an important contributor to the WVC off the court as well, as the Titan’s joined the WVC in 1993, the first year a full conference schedule was played. Jim served on the original committees that established the WVC, and was instrumental in the conference’s rise to national prominence.
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Scott Halbleib |
 As one of the first members to be inducted into the Wisconsin Volleyball Conference Hall of Fame, Scott Halbleib (Middle Hitter- Middleton, WI) played at UW-Whitewater from 1992 to 1994. One of the first original WVC standouts, Halbleib was a first-team All-WVC selection in ‘93 and ‘94, and was also selected to the ‘92 All-Tournament team at the first ever Wisconsin State Championships held in Stevens Point. While Halbleib was at UW-W, he was a key component of a Warhawk squad that won the first two Regular Season WVC Championships as well as finishing first in the WVC Conference Tournament in 1993 and 1994.
In 1993, UW-Whitewater finished 26th in Division I in it’s first trip ever to the Collegiate Club Volleyball Championships at the University of Texas, defeating Texas and Maryland on their way to a second place finish in the DI consolation bracket. In 1994, UW-W finished a then school-best 9th place in Division I at the Collegiate Club Volleyball Championships at Arizona State University, defeating Illinois and Baylor on it’s way to the gold bracket before losing to Sacramento State in the Sweet Sixteen round of the National tournament.
Halbleib was an intense competitor known for his intimidating block, deadly floater serve, his ability to step up in pressure situations and his incomparability as a middle hitter in transition. In addition to his playing acumen, Halbleib is regarded as one of the principal figures in the elevation of the club volleyball program at UW-Whitewater due to his initial membership and subsequent recruitment of the core group of volleyball athletes that dominated the early years of the WVC.
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Mike Radtke |
 Mike Radtke, a member of UW-Platteville’s Men’s Volleyball team from 1993-1996 and UW-Oshkosh from 1997-1999, was one of the most dominant players ever in the WVC. In 1995 and 1996 he was named the WVC’s Most Valuable Player, and is one of only two players to earn the WVC Most Valuable Player award twice. In 1997 and 1998 he garnered WVC First Team honors as well.
Mike was a product of a solid program at UW-Platteville, and as he developed, the Pioneers began their run as the best team in the WVC. Mike was unblockable from the left side, played with emotion and confidence, and earned the respect of every player he ever completed against.
He led UW-Platteville to the WVC State Championship in 1995 and helped UW-Oshkosh capture two of their four consecutive titles in 1997 and 1998. In 1998, he led the Titans to a fifth place finish in the Division I NIRSA National Championships. This is tied for the highest Division I finish ever by a WVC team. |
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