Lakeland University Athletics

2018: Played in 28 matches and a total of 107 sets… Led team with 682 assists and 6.37 assists per set, extending his school varsity record for career assists to 2,223 through his first three seasons… Also ranked third on team with 147 digs and added 21 blocks (two solo, 19 assisted), 16 service aces and 15 kills with five errors in 50 attacks for a .200 hitting percentage… Also ranked third on squad in aces… Finished fifth in NACC in assists and sixth in assists/set… Finished with season-high 52 assists Feb. 3 against Fontbonne (Mo.)... Set a career high with 16 digs at MSOE on Feb. 28.

2017: Played in all 25 matches as the team’s starting setter and a total of 88 sets… Led team with 769 assists and 8.74 assists per set, and set the school’s new varsity record for career assists with 1,541 through his first two seasons… Finished fourth on team with 128 digs and 10 service aces and was sixth on team with 31 blocks (three solo, 28 assisted)… Also added 20 kills with eight errors in 50 attack attempts (.240 hitting percentage)… Named to Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League All-Academic Team.

2016: Played in 80 sets over 25 matches as a freshman… Led team and placed fifth in MCVL and 17th nationally in NCAA Division III with 9.65 assists per set, and also paced team and was seventh in MCVL with 772 total assists… Also added 117 digs, 31 blocks (four solo, 27 assisted) and 11 service aces, finishing fifth on team in digs and tied for fifth in blocks…. Named to MCVL all-academic team.

High School: Three-year letter winner on volleyball team, where he was a three-time team MVP… Three-time all-conference player and named all-area as a senior.

Personal: Born Sept. 24, 1997… Son of Craig & Kate Mertler… Majoring in education.


Career ambition/goal: High school teacher
Favorite TV show: Family Guy
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite athlete: Kyrie Irving (NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers)
Why did you choose Lakeland? Volleyball, education program, family environment