Tyler Mitchem

Born on May 24, 1998, Tyler Joseph Mitchem is a middle blocker in professional volleyball from Bolingbrook, Illinois. He comes from a family with a strong athletic background, with his mother, Jackie, playing basketball at Lewis University and his father, James, playing basketball at DePaul University, even reaching the 1979 NCAA Final Four. Mitchem’s collegiate career at Lewis University spanned from 2017 to 2022, though he redshirted his freshman year and utilized an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his time with the Lewis Flyers, he played in 127 matches and established himself as a prominent player, earning AVCA All-American honors three times.

Mitchem’s college career was marked by consistent performance and leadership. He was named to the All-MIVA Second Team as a freshman and subsequently earned All-Conference First Team selections in his remaining four years. A key milestone was leading the NCAA in hitting percentage with .504% in 2019, contributing to Lewis’s appearance in the 2019 Division I/II NCAA Final Four. He maintained high efficiency throughout his college career, culminating in a .447 hitting percentage and averaging 1.341 blocks per set in 2022, ranking him third nationally among Division I/II players. His collegiate accolades include the National Blocker of the Year, the Dain Blanton Diversity Award, the Division II National Player of the Year, and the Ryan Millar Award from Off The Block.

Following his distinguished collegiate career, Mitchem transitioned to professional volleyball, signing with Le Plessis-Robinson Volley-ball in France for the 2022–2023 season. Concurrently, he became a member of the United States men’s national volleyball team, making his debut in 2021. He earned a bronze medal at the 2021 Men’s Pan-American Volleyball Cup and a silver medal at the 2022 FIVB Nations League, playing in several matches and contributing to the team’s success. His progression from a highly touted high school recruit to a collegiate standout and now an international and professional player highlights his sustained dedication and athletic development.