The 2023 Continental Volleyball Conference semifinals featured a pair of five-set thrillers including one upset. #2 Juniata College came from behind to edge past #3 Marymount University and #5 Rutgers University-Newark knocked off top-seeded Southern Virginia University. 

Rutgers-Newark vs. Southern Virginia
The Scarlet Raiders had to hold off a strong charge by the Knights, winning 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 16-25, and 15-11. The Scarlet Raiders came out firing away, hitting .344 in the opening set and .207 in the second set; reaching double-digit kills in both sets. Down 23-19 in the third set, the Knights responded with six straight points gaining momentum. 

They took that momentum into the fourth set, winning by the match's largest margin, nine points. The Knights hit .412 in the set with just two errors and nine kills. Rutgers-Newark grabbed the first point of the final set but Southern Virginia was able to tie it up at 5-5 on a kill by Jayton Hall. However, a service error gave the point and serve back to the Scarlet Raiders who would not look back.

Martin Chromulak led Rutgers-Newark with 15 kills while Derek Au finished with 32 assists and 10 digs. Christian Sheaffer had a team-high 15 kills for Southern Virginia with Tyler Sheaffer tallying 44 assists and 10 digs. 

Juniata vs. Marymount 
The Saints took the opening set 25-20 before the Eagles answered with a 30-28 win in set two. Marymount grabbed the advantage in the third set, winning 25-20 before Juniata forced a fifth set by winning set four 25-17. The Eagles came out on top 15-8, advancing to the championship match. 

Both teams struggled to find their attack in the match with Marymount hitting .148 and Juniata hitting .169. The two teams traded sets through the first four until the Eagles' offense finally hit its groove. The Eagles waited until the fifth set to turn up the attack, hitting .727 with nine kills and just one error on only 11 swings. Despite the powerful fifth-set attack, Marymount was down just 9-8. The Eagles finished the set, and win, off with three kills on its final six points including the match winner by Drew Hunker. 

Hunker and Will Phelan led Juniata with 11 kills while Jeremiah Burden finished with 23 digs and Reese Ganter added 26 assists. Marymount was led by Devon Robinson's 12 kills with Grayson Andrews recording 42 assists.