1/24/26
The Southern Virginia University men’s volleyball team defended Knight Arena with clinical precision on January 23, 2026, sweeping both Lancaster Bible College and Bridgewater College in a home tri-match. The two victories preserved the Knights’ unblemished record, pushing them to a 5-0 start for the season.
By utilizing deep rotations and high-efficiency offense, Southern Virginia proved why they are the team to beat in the Continental Volleyball Conference.
Match One: Southern Virginia 3, Lancaster Bible 0
Scores: 25-21, 25-18, 25-19
The opening match featured a test against a battle-tested Lancaster Bible squad coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Knights met the challenge with a balanced attack, hitting .413 as a team.
- Offensive Firepower: Tommy Forese led the charge with a match-high 14 kills.
- Service Pressure: Brady Dastrup dismantled the Chargers’ reception, recording 5 of the team’s 7 service aces.
- Playmaking: Gehrig Tolman orchestrated the floor with 35 assists, guiding the team to a peak hitting percentage of .542 in the final set.
Match Two: Southern Virginia 3, Bridgewater 0
Scores: 25-8, 25-15, 25-16
In the nightcap, Southern Virginia welcomed Bridgewater College for the first meeting in the Eagles’ program history. The Knights wasted no time, holding Bridgewater to just 8 points in a dominant opening set.
The lopsided start allowed Head Coach Tom Peterson to showcase his roster’s depth, with 14 different Knights contributing points to the win.
- Efficiency Leader: Trajan Wadsworth made the most of his time on the court, racking up 6 kills on only 8 attacks for a .625 hitting percentage.
- Rookie & Depth Impact: Brady Dastrup added 4 kills, while Mark Tomlinson (10 assists) and Keanu Calles (6 assists) shared setting duties effectively.
- Defensive Stability: Libero Owen Christian anchored the back row with 4 digs.
Performance Comparison
| Statistical Category | vs. Lancaster Bible | vs. Bridgewater |
| Team Hitting % | .413 | .492 |
| Total Kills | 40 | 36 |
| Service Aces | 7 | 12 |
| Total Blocks | 3.0 | 4.5 |
What’s Next for the Knights
Southern Virginia hits the road for the EMU Royals Tournament in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on January 30 and 31. Their quest to remain undefeated continues Friday night against Bethany College at 6:00 PM.