The Southern Virginia men's volleyball team demonstrated their prowess as they advanced to the quarterfinals following a decisive victory over St. Joseph's University in the first round.

Seeking redemption from their defeat to the Golden Eagles in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, the Knights displayed dominance with a commanding 3-0 win, securing set scores of 25-22, 25-22, and 25-18.

The opening set witnessed a closely contested battle, with Southern Virginia trailing 3-0 initially. However, an impressive offensive effort, highlighted by a crucial four-point run from Tyler Sheaffer and Krist Bianchin, alongside consecutive attack errors from St. Joseph, allowed the Knights to seize a lead. They ultimately closed out the set with a decisive kill from Samuel Candland and Jeremy Brown, extending their lead to four points and clinching the set.

In the second set, the Knights found their rhythm, jumping to a four-point lead fueled by successive blocks from Brown, Kyler Evans, and Candland. Despite a strong offensive push from St. Joseph, the duo of Brown and Christian Sheaffer maintained momentum, propelling Southern Virginia to a 2-0 lead.

The final set saw the Knights maintaining control, establishing a significant lead of six points. Tyler Sheaffer electrified the crowd with consecutive kills, followed by Maxym Sutton sealing the victory with a service ace, propelling the Knights to the quarterfinals.

Notably, Southern Virginia showcased dominance at the net with 10 blocks and 46 kills. Jeremy Brown delivered an outstanding performance with 11 kills, supported by Christian Sheaffer with 8 kills. Christian also led the team in aces with 3 and blocks with 4.

The Knights will resume action tomorrow, Saturday, April 20th, as they host New York University for the NCAA D3 Quarterfinals match.

STORY COURTESY OF SOUTHERN VIRGINIA SPORTS INFORMATION