HARROGATE, TN – Lincoln Memorial University men's volleyball placed three student-athletes on the 2026 IVA First Team, as outside hitter Axel van Baars, middle blocker Oisin Walsh and setter Inbar Shachar were each recognized for their standout seasons.
The trio has helped power another strong year for the Railsplitters, who enter the final weekend of the regular season with a 14-6 record. As a team, LMU has totaled 846 kills while hitting .273 and holding opponents to a .187 attack percentage through 20 matches. The Railsplitters have also compiled 776 assists, 679 digs and 136 total blocks heading into postseason play.
Van Baars, a senior from Eindhoven, Netherlands, has been one of Lincoln Memorial's top offensive weapons all season. He leads the team with 166 kills and 196.5 points, while adding 20 service aces and 102 digs. His season included a huge performance in LMU's five-set win at Tusculum on March 3, when he posted a season-high 23 kills.
Walsh has made an immediate impact in his freshman campaign. The Oak Lawn, Illinois, native has hit .328 on the year with 59 kills and has been a force at the net with 54 total blocks. One of his best performances came in the comeback win over Tusculum, when he finished with seven kills on .700 hitting and a season-high 10 total blocks.
Shachar, a sophomore setter from Kibbutz Metser, Israel, has directed the LMU offense all season and enters the final week with 430 assists, along with 89 digs and 24 total blocks. He turned in one of the team's top all-around efforts of the season at Tusculum, recording 67 assists, 10 digs and seven total blocks as the Railsplitters rallied from two sets down for the win.
The honors reflect the balance Lincoln Memorial has shown throughout the season. Van Baars has given the Railsplitters a reliable high-volume attacker on the outside, Walsh has anchored the middle with his blocking presence, and Shachar has kept the offense steady while distributing to multiple scoring options. Together, the three have played central roles in LMU's push toward the postseason.
Lincoln Memorial closes the regular season Saturday at home against Tusculum before heading to the IVA Tournament, which is scheduled for April 16-18 at Barry University's Health & Sports Center in Miami Shores, Florida.
