Juniata Falls in NCAA Semifinal Battle Against Southern Virginia, 3–2
Roanoke, VA – The historic 2025 season for the Juniata men's volleyball team came to a hard-fought end in the NCAA Division III National Semifinals, as the Eagles dropped a five-set thriller to Southern Virginia, 3–2 (29–31, 10–25, 25–21, 25–23, 10–15), on Friday evening at the Cregger Center.
Facing a familiar conference foe that had bested them twice this season, the Eagles showed grit and heart in their third clash with the Knights, clawing back from a two-set deficit to force a decisive fifth set. But Southern Virginia, the 2025 CVC Champions and now 34–1 on the year, edged out the final frame to earn their spot in Monday's national title match.
The match marked the final chapter of a remarkable season for Juniata (31–5), which set a program record for wins, earned its second-ever trip to the NCAA Final Four, and took the CVC by storm all spring.
Offensively, Juan Armando powered the Eagles with a match-high 19 kills, adding 13 digs and a service ace to finish with 21 points. He helped anchor Juniata's comeback in the third and fourth sets after the team was held to just 10 points in a difficult second frame.
Luke Hoffman was one of the most efficient attackers for Juniata, tallying six kills on 16 attempts without an error (.375), while also contributing at the net with two blocks. Chase Robbins added seven kills and chipped in a service ace and a block assist.
Setter Will Sierer paced the offense with 21 assists and also played a steady role in the back row with seven digs. On the defensive end, Chris Mellor had six kills and three block assists, while Tyler Goldsborough posted seven kills, two service aces, and two blocks in a balanced effort. Grant Lorelli added a pair of kills and 18 assists in rotation with Sierer, helping guide Juniata to a .320 hitting percentage in the third set and a clutch finish in the fourth.
Defensively, Nathanael Brown, Jeremiah Burden, and Peter Carioto provided key contributions in the backcourt and on serve receive, but the Knights' aggressive serving, with five aces and a 28-block performance, ultimately proved the difference.
Southern Virginia was led by AVCA Region III Player of the Year Christian Sheaffer, who notched 23 kills and two aces, and setter Gehrig Tolman, who dished out 44 assists and helped the Knights to a .228 team hitting percentage.
Despite the loss, the Eagles' historic season and Final Four appearance solidified the team's place among the elite in Division III volleyball.