Men's Volleyball | 11/17/2014 8:38:00 AM

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Former All-American setter for the Lewis University men's volleyball program BJ Boldog (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) is now playing professionally for Chemie Volley Mitteldeutschland in Germany. The club, which goes by the nickname of the Pirates, hails from the city of Spergau, about two hours south of Berlin. The Pirates play in Bundesliga, the top volleyball league in the country.

The team features players from Germany, Poland, Croatia and Canada. Boldog is the first American for the team since Stanford's Erik Shoji played for the club in 2012-13. The club is coached by Ulf Quell, Germany's junior national team coach.

"I'm really excited for BJ and his opportunity to play overseas," Lewis head coach Dan Friend said. "BJ is an extremely talented player and person and I know he will continue to excel at the next level."

Boldog recorded 4,385 assists in a Lewis uniform from 2011-14. His total ranks third all-time for a career at Lewis and first during the rally-scoring era (2002-present). Boldog was a three-time AVCA All-American and twice earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. His 338 blocks ranks seventh all-time in Lewis history.
 
Boldog isn't the only former Lewis setter currently playing professionally. Mike Iandolo is playing for Falkenbergs Volleybollklubb in Sweden. He is the club's first ever non-Swedish setter. Iandolo played for the Flyers from 2008-10. He is second to only Boldog in career assists during the rally scoring era with 3,389. He also ranks fourth all-time in career aces with 101.
 
"Having Jay Petty, BJ Boldog, and Mike Iandolo go play overseas these past few years really shows the growth and development of our program," Friend said.
 
Lewis opens the 2015 campaign Jan. 5 at UC Irvine. Lewis plays a home exhibition contest Jan. 2 against Windsor.