January 25, 2025
Our first computer ranking using the algorithm was published tonight based on games played through 1/25/25. For a link to that Ranking…. CLICK HERE.
We have also issued our first Standings presentation of the year with records and analytics sorted by each conference. For a link to that Standing…. CLICK HERE.
Saturday was a FULL schedule with over 70 matches on the slate. We will evaluate just a few tonight as its already 3AM…
In a thrilling D3 weekend matchup, #16 Benedictine stunned #23 North Central in a five-set marathon (25-18, 25-17, 20-25, 23-25, 15-11). Cooper Armstrong and Chris Radomski combining for 35 kills and Spencer Van Engen posted 49 assists as the Eagles soared when it mattered most. The match was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with Benedictine dominating the first two sets before North Central mounted a fierce comeback to force a decisive fifth set. Zander Feudner lifted 16 digs for NCC. Cooper had 5 kills in the final set and Radomski had 4 as the Eagles built a big lead early and finished of the Cardinals 15-11. Benedictine moved to 3-1 while NCC dropped to 2-2.
In a dominant Saturday showcase at Speidel Gymnasium, the Elmira Soaring Eagles lived up to their nickname by soaring past both Buffalo State and King’s College without dropping a single set, improving to a perfect 4-0 on the season. Senior Jordan Peiser terrorized Buffalo State with 15 kills and a scorching .458 hitting percentage in the first match, while freshman Luke Jata took flight in match two with a team-leading 13 kills against King’s. The dynamic duo of Peiser and setter Max Cohen continued their aerial assault, with Cohen dishing out an impressive 56 assists across both matches. Freshman Paten Buckwalter made the most efficient use of his wings, posting a career-high .636 hitting percentage in the second match, suggesting that these Soaring Eagles have plenty of young talent ready to take flight. The pair of sweeps leaves Elmira’s nest untouched this season, as they’ve yet to drop a match in their 4-0 start.
At the Fenway Volleyball Classic, #15 Wentworth delivered a commanding performance, dispatching both Endicott and #8 Hobart in straight sets to improve their record to 4-1. The Leopards’ offensive efficiency was on full display, led by Jacob Waga’s 16 kills and supported by a stellar team hitting percentage of .369 against Hobart. The defensive unit, anchored by Nicolai Bell‘s 6 blocks and Mekhi Burns’ 10 digs, systematically dismantled Hobart’s attack, limiting the previously 8-0 Statesmen to just 18, 17, and 22 points across three sets. The balanced Wentworth attack consistently found gaps in Hobart’s defense, while their own defensive positioning and disciplined blocking schemes created significant challenges for the higher-ranked opponent. The Leopards will continue their tournament play tomorrow, facing #27 Misericordia and Baruch as they look to build on their impressive start to the season.
#4 Vassar delivered two impressive victories on Saturday, extending their perfect season to 6-0 with a four-set win over #24 Nichols (25-22, 21-25, 25-17, 25-22) and a commanding sweep of Ramapo (25-16, 25-14, 25-18). Walter Birnbaum led the charge against Nichols with a career-high 20 kills, while Armaan Desai added 13 kills in a match that showcased Vassar’s resilience after dropping the second set. The Brewers’ depth was evident in both matches, with Eli Lee (8 kills) and Shawn Zheng (7 kills) efficiently leading the offense against Ramapo, while Nick Villamil and Parker Schoenl combined for 73 assists across both matches. The Brewers demonstrated their defensive prowess as well, with Billy Fan contributing 12 digs and 4 blocks against Nichols, while holding both opponents to minimal offensive success through strong blocking and disciplined floor defense.
Top-ranked Southern Virginia showcased their championship mettle at the Jim Coleman Memorial Invitational, sweeping both #13 Loras and host #21 Wittenberg to start their season 3-0. The Knights’ defense proved impenetrable against Loras, with Kyler Evans and Jason Wang forming a formidable wall while Christian Sheaffer powered the offense with 13 kills. Transfer setter Gehrig Tolman orchestrated an efficient attack across both matches, adding three service aces in the Wittenberg sweep. Samuel Candland dominated throughout the tournament, while seniors Jayton Hall (.571 hitting percentage) and Maxym Sutton (perfect 3-for-3 hitting) provided veteran leadership in the Wittenberg victory. The Knights will look to extend their winning streak at home next Tuesday, hosting a tri-match against Averett and Roanoke.
#14 Baldwin Wallace stunned #19 UC Santa Cruz 3-1, securing their third win over a ranked opponent in program history. Sophomore Owen Huynh led the upset with a career-high 18 kills (.387), while senior Carson Junker orchestrated the offense with 42 assists. After dropping the first set (.455 to .182), the Yellow Jackets dominated with hitting percentages over .400 in the final three sets to complete the comeback. Baldwin Wallace (4-1) looks to continue their giant-slaying run tomorrow against #11 St. John Fisher at the BW Invitational.
More new content tomorrow… 🙂