SVU Claims School’s First-Ever National Title
It was a Monday night spectacle at the Cregger Center in Salem, as the Southern Virginia University men’s volleyball team competed in its first national championship match against Springfield College and came out on top, 3-0.
An electric atmosphere, fueled by well over 1,000 Southern Virginia faithful, propelled the Knights (35-1) to a historic victory, clinching the first NCAA Division III national championship in school history by defeating the Pride 25-20, 25-23, 27-25.
SVU became the third school that coach Tom Peterson, 71, has guided to an NCAA title. He previously led Brigham Young University and Penn State University to NCAA crowns. Peterson has coached the Knights since their debut as a team nine years ago. SVU, formerly a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association school, did not become eligible for NCAA Division III tournaments in any sport until the 2016-17 school year.
After the final point, SVU senior outside hitter Christian Sheaffer, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, was quick to embrace former teammate and brother, Tyler, a 2024 SVU graduate. Christian went on to describe what fueled the Knights to a sweep in the biggest match of the year, just one season after a heartbreaking loss in the NCAA quarterfinals.
“Seeing him unable to get off the floor after that loss was difficult,” said Christian. “We were not going to have that again. We did this for our team, for our school, and I was doing this for my brother.” Christian Sheaffer led the team with 13 kills, while seniors Kristo Bianchin and Kyler Evans each held a hitting percentage of over .500 to help the attack. Seniors Justin Madsen and Jayton Hall had 12 and 10 digs respectively, and sophomore Gehrig Tolman finished with 36 assists.
AT FART LEFT, SVU sophomore Gehrig Tolman leaps to set as senior teammate Kristo Blanchin (1) watches at the net during the semifinals. INSET PHOTO, Blanchin rejoices while hoisting the trophy after the Knights won the national title. (SVU photos by Erik Flores)
In the opening set, the Knights played at a blistering pace that was difficult for the Pride (25-5) to keep up with. Evans and senior Jeremy Brown helped SVU race out to a 12-4 advantage, leaving rowdy Knight fans on their feet.
Springfield attempted to mount a comeback, but the early deficit was too much and the Knights hung on for a 25-20 set one win. In the second, the Knights showed the resilience that had gotten them to the final. Despite falling behind, the Knights remained in touch and eventually gained a late threepoint lead after Toman connected on a pass to Hall to record his third kill.
After a kill from Bianchin, the Knights had Springfield on the brink of defeat, a set away from a first ever national title. In the third and potential final frame, Tolman found the hot hands of Hall and Sheaffer. Springfield did its best to stave off defeat, but a big swing from Bianchin clinched the title, and the celebration was on.
Brown, Madsen, Tolman and Sheaffer were recognized as part of the all-tournament team for the final four.
During this historic season for SVU, the Knights’ lone loss was a 3-1 setback at Springfield on March 29. Since then, they have won 11 consecutive matches, claiming their second consecutive Continental Volleyball Conference title on the way and going 7-0 in the CVC.
In The Semifinals
To get to the championship game, the Knights last Friday night battled through a marathon match to defeat Juniata College 3-2. Second-ranked SVU prevailed with a 31-29, 25-10, 21-25, 23-25, 15-10 victory.
A raucous SVU crowd carried the Knights through the opening set. While both teams looked rather shaky on the attack, mixed in with several service errors, the SVU defense began to establish itself.
Blanchin and Samuel Candland each recorded three blocks to keep the Knights in front of their opponents. However, Juniata (31-5) stuck with it and held set point several times during a crucial opening frame.
Tied at 28, a kill from Sheaffer ignited a mini SVU run, followed by a Juniata service error two points later. Fittingly, Bianchin and Candland combined for a huge block to clinch an allimportant 1-0 lead.
Set two was all Southern Virginia. After jumping out to a 9-5 advantage, the Knights only allowed five points the rest of the way en route to a 25-10 allaround clinic.
Juniata returned the favor in the third set, gaining an early lead which they would not relinquish to cut the Knights set lead in half. In a thrilling fourth, Juniata again outlasted SVU in door- die moments to set the stage for a pivotal fifth and final frame.
The fifth set was filled with moments that create lasting memories. After Candland was forced to sub out with an injury, freshman Brady Dastrup made his first appearance in the tournament. Despite coming in cold, he made an immediate impact. On the next set Tolman sent a pass Dastrup’s way who used a big swing to register his first kill. The point helped spur on the Knights as they built a 9-5 lead. Mitchell Barney also came in and gave his teammates a couple of beautiful passes to ensure Southern Virginia wouldn’t give up the lead. With a 14-10 lead, Blanchin finished off his 11th block at the net to send his team to the national championship match.
Putting a wrap on the magical season, coach Peterson said Monday, “I’m not sure you can describe it; you can only feel it. I’m not sure I could imagine anything better than winning a championship with these guys.”
THE SVU players celebrate after winning the school’s first-ever national title. In the championship match on Monday night in Salem, the Knights defeated Springfield College 3-0. (SVU photoby Erik Flores)
KNIGHT SENIOR Christian Sheaffer (right) embraces senior teammate Kristo Bianchin after SVU’s championship win. In the finals, Sheaffer, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, led the Knights with 13 kills and had 11 digs, while Blanchin recorded eight kills. (SVU photo by Erik Flores)
