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The Southern Virginia men’s volleyball team capped off their undefeated season by earning their third Continental Volleyball Conference Championship, beating sixth-ranked Juniata College, 25-18, 25-15, 25-18.
In a closely contested opening frame, the Knights and Eagles traded points, with Juniata holding a slight 6-5 edge early on. However, back-to-back kills by Kristo Bianchin and Samuel Candland shifted the momentum in favor of the Knights, who seized the lead and never looked back. The set concluded with an Eagle attack error, one of nine in the set.
The second set mirrored the first, with Juniata maintaining a narrow early lead. However, Kyler Evans spurred a decisive surge for the Knights with a kill assisted by Tyler Sheaffer. SVU surged ahead, displaying offensive prowess with a match-high .538 hitting percentage, recording 14 kills and 0 errors on just 26 swings.
As the teams reached a deadlock at 17-17, the Knights orchestrated a remarkable six-point run, led by Evans and Jeremy Brown, who contributed two kills and an ace each to seal the rally. Christian Sheaffer delivered the championship-winning point, set up by his brother, Tyler.
SVU showcased its offensive firepower and defensive strength, tallying 37 kills with a .338 hitting percentage, while also recording seven blocks and limiting the Eagles to just .082 hitting percentage.
Christian Sheaffer led SVU with 12 kills and was named the conference tournament MVP, while Jeremy Brown contributed 10 kills. Tyler Sheaffer, recognized on the 2024 CVC All-Tournament team, recorded 29 assists, while Justin Madsen, also named to the All-Tournament Team, finished with 13 digs.
As the No. 1 ranked team in the country, SVU was eagerly anticipated Monday’s announcement of the NCAA Division III Tournament field. The team is poised to continue their championship pursuit on the national stage.
For all the most up-to-date information regarding the SVU volleyball team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knightmvolleyball on Instagram.
