4/21/25
In a weekend of thrilling upsets, dominant performances, and championship-caliber volleyball, the NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Tournament has narrowed the field to its Final Four. Defending Champs California Lutheran, #1 Southern Virginia, #4 Springfield, and #5 Juniata will converge on Salem, Virginia for the semifinals on Friday, April 25, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable championship weekend.
#8 Cal Lutheran Stuns No. 2 NYU
In perhaps the most stunning result of the quarterfinals, eighth-ranked California Lutheran knocked off previously undefeated and second-ranked New York University with a 3-1 victory (18-25, 25-22, 28-26, 25-20) in New York City. The Kingsmen handed the Violets their first loss since April 26, 2024, nearly a full calendar year, while extending their own winning streak to four matches.
After dropping the first set 25-18, Cal Lutheran made critical adjustments that turned the tide of the match. Michael Stahl led the Kingsmen attack with 18 kills while hitting an impressive .350, adding 8 digs and a block. Jordan Cooper contributed 14 kills, including a decisive kill and ace in the fourth set that sealed the victory. Ben Weber (11 kills) and Borys Horiuk (7 kills, .417 hitting percentage, 3 blocks) rounded out a balanced offensive effort.
The Kingsmen utilized the first set to adjust to NYU’s style of play highlighting Cal Lutheran’s strategic approach. The Kingsmen’s ability to adapt proved crucial, especially in a tightly contested third set that saw nine different ties before Cal Lutheran prevailed 28-26, grabbing the momentum that carried them to victory.
For their outstanding performances throughout the regional, Stahl, Horiuk, Weber, and Braden Gonzales (16 digs) were named to the All-Regional Team. Cal Lutheran improved to 23-6 on the season and will face Springfield in the national semifinals.
#1 Southern Virginia Rides Home Court Advantage to Final Four
Southern Virginia University leveraged the energy of hundreds of Knights fans packed inside the Washington & Lee Gymnasium to secure a 3-1 victory (28-30, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18) over #10 Messiah College. After dropping a hard-fought first set 30-28, the Knights rallied to win three straight sets and punch their ticket to the national semifinals for just the second time in program history.
Kyler Evans was nearly unstoppable with an extraordinary .529 hitting percentage, while Christian Sheaffer led the Knights with 12 kills and added 2 aces. Samuel Candland contributed 9 kills and 3 blocks, and Kristo Bianchin’s 4 blocks helped secure one of the biggest wins in SVU history.
The Knights showed remarkable resilience after losing the opening frame despite jumping out to an early 13-6 lead. In the critical third set, with the match tied at one set apiece, Jayton Hall provided the spark Southern Virginia needed, delivering an ace during a crucial stretch that saw the Knights claim the set 25-22. Hall finished the match with three aces, bringing his weekend total to an impressive eight.
The decisive fourth set featured a dramatic finish as Christian Sheaffer led the Knights on a furious eight-point rally, delivering two aces to secure the win and send Southern Virginia to Salem. Evans, Sheaffer, and Justin Madsen were named to the All-Tournament team for their exceptional play.
Currently 33-1 on the season and ranked No. 1 by InsideHitter.com for the entirety of the season, the Knights will face conference rival #5 Juniata in the national semifinals, a team they defeated just last week for the CVC crown.
#4 Springfield Survives Five-Set Thriller Against #3 Carthage
The fourth-ranked Springfield Pride emerged victorious in a grueling five-set battle against third-ranked Carthage College (23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 19-25, 15-8), earning their first trip to the national semifinals since 2022 and the program’s tenth Final Four appearance overall.
Springfield produced a remarkable 66 kills, the ninth-most ever for a five-set match in the NCAA Tournament. Carter Durivage led the offensive onslaught with 23 kills while hitting .514, while Sam Levinson added 14 kills with a .462 hitting percentage, three aces, and seven digs. Chris Rouleau, Brennan Cutter, and Jake DesLauriers each contributed nine kills, with Cutter adding six blocks. Dylan Mulvaney orchestrated the offense with 55 assists while adding two aces and ten digs.
After splitting the first four sets with Carthage, Springfield dominated the decisive fifth set, racing out to a 6-1 lead and never looking back. The Pride hit an impressive .432 for the match compared to Carthage’s .325, and also held significant advantages in total points (81.5 to 65) and aces (8 to 6).
“Playing in its second five-set match in as many nights, Springfield was in complete control racing out to a 6-1 lead in the decisive set,” the recap noted. Springfield, now 24-4 on the season, will face defending Champ Cal Lutheran in the national semifinals.
#5 Juniata Sets Program Wins Record En Route to Salem
Juniata College secured their spot in the Final Four with a commanding 3-1 victory (25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 25-11) over #25 Nichols College. With their 31st win of the season, the Eagles set a new program record for victories while reaching the national semifinals for just the second time in program history.
Tyler Goldsborough spearheaded the Eagles’ attack with 14 kills on 21 swings for a blistering .619 hitting percentage. Juan Armando added 13 kills with a .522 hitting percentage, while Chris Mellor contributed 10 kills and hit .474. As a team, Juniata hit an extraordinary .452 with 59 kills, demonstrating offensive efficiency that will make them a formidable opponent in Salem.
The Eagles came out firing in the opening set, hitting .625 with 17 kills to take a 25-19 win. The second set was tightly contested with 13 ties, but Juniata pulled away late for a 25-22 victory. After dropping the third set 25-21, the Eagles responded emphatically in the fourth, hitting .550 with 14 kills while limiting Nichols to just four kills and a .133 hitting percentage, closing out the match with a dominant 25-11 set win.
Will Sierer orchestrated the offense with 25 assists while adding two aces and eight digs. Grant Lorelli contributed 14 assists and two block assists, and Luke Hoffman added eight kills.
Juniata, with a 6-1 CVC conference record, will face Southern Virginia in what promises to be an electrifying semifinal matchup, a rematch of the recent CVC championship that Southern Virginia claimed.
Championship Semifinal Matchups: Friday, April 25 in Salem, Virginia
Semifinal 1: #8 California Lutheran (23-6) vs. #4 Springfield (24-4) – 2 PM PT/5 PM ET
California Lutheran Kingsmen – Key Players:
- Michael Stahl – Outside Hitter: 18 kills, .350 hitting percentage vs. NYU; All-Regional Team selection
- Jordan Cooper – Outside Hitter: 14 kills, 2 aces in quarterfinal victory
- Ben Weber – Outside Hitter: 11 kills; All-Regional Team selection
- Borys Horiuk – Middle Blocker: .417 hitting percentage, 3 blocks; All-Regional Team selection
- Braden Gonzales – Libero: 16 digs; All-Regional Team selection
Springfield Pride – Key Players:
- Carter Durivage – Outside Hitter: 23 kills, .514 hitting percentage vs. Carthage
- Sam Levinson – Right Side: 14 kills, .462 hitting percentage, 3 aces, 7 digs
- Brennan Cutter – Middle Blocker: 9 kills, 6 blocks
- Dylan Mulvaney – Setter: 55 assists, 2 aces, 10 digs
- Chris Rouleau – Middle Blocker: 9 kills
This matchup features Cal Lutheran’s balanced attack against Springfield’s offensive juggernaut that produced 66 kills in their quarterfinal victory. The Kingsmen’s ability to make strategic adjustments mid-match will be tested against the Pride’s overwhelming offensive firepower.
Semifinal 2: #1 Southern Virginia (33-1) vs. #5 Juniata (31-4) – 7:30 PM ET
Southern Virginia Knights – Key Players:
- Christian Sheaffer – Outside Hitter: 12 kills, 2 aces vs. Messiah; All-Tournament selection
- Kyler Evans – Middle Hitter: 11 kills, .529 hitting percentage; All-Tournament selection
- Samuel Candland – Opposite: 9 kills, 3 blocks
- Jeremy Brown – Outside Hitter: 711 kills for his career
- Jayton Hall – Service Specialist: 3 aces in quarterfinal (8 aces throughout regional)
- Justin Madsen – All-Tournament selection
Juniata Eagles – Key Players:
- Tyler Goldsborough – Outside Hitter: 14 kills, .619 hitting percentage vs. Nichols
- Juan Armando – Outside Hitter: 13 kills, .522 hitting percentage
- Chris Mellor – Middle Blocker: 10 kills, .474 hitting percentage, 3 blocks
- Will Sierer – Setter: 25 assists, 2 aces, 8 digs
- Luke Hoffman – Outside Hitter: 8 kills
This semifinal features a rematch of the recent CVC championship match won by Southern Virginia. The Knights bring momentum from their home court advantage and an impressive 33-1 record, while Juniata enters with program-record 31 wins and extraordinary offensive efficiency, hitting .452 as a team in their quarterfinal victory.
The Road to Salem
The journey to the Final Four began with 14 conference tournaments, each crowning a champion that earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Additional at-large bids were awarded based on performance throughout the season, creating a diverse and competitive field of 19 teams.
Notable conference champions included NYU (UVC), Southern Virginia (CVC), Carthage (CCIW), Stevens (MAC), Wentworth (GNAC), Aurora (NACC) and Randolph-Macon (ODAC). Teams that earned at-large bids through their strong regular-season performance included Springfield, Cal Lutheran, Messiah, Vassar, and Juniata.
The tournament has delivered exactly what fans hoped for: high-level competition, dramatic upsets, and inspiring performances from student-athletes who have devoted countless hours to their craft. As the Final Four approaches, volleyball enthusiasts across the country eagerly anticipate the culmination of this championship season, where one team will etch its name in Division III volleyball history.
All four remaining teams have demonstrated the skill, determination, and resilience worthy of a national champion. The stage is set for an unforgettable championship weekend in Salem, Virginia, where dreams will be realized and legends will be made.
