The 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Final Four is set to deliver an electrifying weekend of competition at the Cregger Center in Salem, Virginia. The semifinals on Friday, April 25, will feature a who’s who of storied programs throughout the DIII landscape, each vying for a spot in the national championship match on Sunday, April 27.
🏐 Semifinal Matchups
5:00 PM ET – Cal Lutheran vs. Springfield
- Cal Lutheran Kingsmen: The defending national champions return to the semifinals with momentum, having defeated the previously unbeaten NYU 3–1 in the quarterfinals. This result was shocking to most, as the Violets have proven time and time again throughout the season to be able to grind out wins when faced with adversity. For Cal Lutheran to beat the #1 seed on their own home court is testament to their determination to repeat as Champions.
To their credit, the Kingsmen have been on a shortlist of teams capable of winning the national championship this year by those who cover DIII men’s volleyball. Coach Judd and his band of merry men are 11-2 against Top 20 DIII opponents this year. The corps of Cooper, Stahl, Horiuk, and Weber is beyond formidable, and they supplemented their loss of the Marks brothers this off season with a proven libero in Gonzales and the emergence of freshmen setter Galanski. If anything, we probably haven’t talked enough about the possibility of a Cal Lutheran repeat; people are talking now though. - Springfield Pride: A perennial DIII powerhouse with five national titles, Springfield advanced to the Final Four by defeating Carthage in a thrilling five-set quarterfinal. This is a huge win for the Pride in my eyes, as I have had Carthage as a shortlist contender for the National Championship since the beginning of the season.
A big question for the Pride the last few years has been pin play, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. The transfer of Jake DesLauriers alongside the breakout season of Carter Durivage has finally stabilized the outside hitter position for Springfield. Coach Sullivan is easily the best Coach in DIII men’s volleyball, and he has the Pride firing on all cylinders. I have them as a slight underdog against Cal Lutheran, but I’ll never count Springfield out of any match in April.
7:30 PM ET – Juniata vs. Southern Virginia
- Juniata Eagles: The Eagles ended the Cinderella run of Nichols, punching their ticket to the semifinals in the process. The Eagles were another team on my shortlist of Championship contenders this year, and they’ve showcased it throughout the year with 12 top 25 wins.
Middle Blocker Luke Hoffman is having a career year, and Tyler Goldsborough looks to be in good form following his performance against Nichols. Coach DeHaven will need both of them at their best for their next matcH, as they take on Southern Virginia in the National Semifinals.
I won’t sugar coat this one, the Eagles are definitely the underdogs in this match given the dynamics of this CVC rivalry over the years. However, we currently live in a universe where Stevens (last ranked #3 in the AVCA Coaches Poll) lost to the Nichols Bison who were coached by two grad assistants (you read that correctly, the two coaches for the Bison are grad assistants so more power to them). Our T100 model had Nichols at 5% probability to beat Stevens in that game… so If Nichols can beat Stevens, Juniata (at 30%) can most definitely beat Southern Virginia. Streaks eventually end, and it’s incredibly hard to beat the same team three times in a year. All it takes is one spark for Juan Armando to get hot and carry a game. Juniata in 5?
- Southern Virginia Knights: Boasting a remarkable 31–1 record with 30 sweeps this season, the Knights were cast as the foil for NYU throughout the season. There were legitimate arguments to be had about who was truly the number one D3 team between the two until Springfield defeated SVU in March. I don’t think that’s the case anymore, as Southern Virginia is now clearly the favorite to win the National Championship in the current field.
They have the most talented roster of the remaining teams, and very likely the future Player of the Year in Christian Sheaffer manning things at the left pin. The Knights haven’t lost to Juniata since 2018, and Coach Tom Peterson is probably on the Mt. Rushmore of coaching greats, consider them a heavy favorite in this semifinal rematch.
📺 How to Watch
All semifinal and championship matches will be streamed live on NCAA.com, providing fans nationwide the opportunity to witness the culmination of an intense and thrilling tournament.
🏆 Championship Outlook
With a blend of blue blood programs and emerging powerhouses, the 2025 Final Four promises high-caliber volleyball and compelling narratives. Whether it’s Cal Lutheran’s title defense, Springfield’s pursuit of a sixth championship, or the potential for Juniata or Southern Virginia to capture their first NCAA title, the stage is set for an unforgettable conclusion to the 2025 Division III men’s volleyball season.
T100 Probabilities
Cal Lutheran 55% vs Springfield 45%
Southern Virginia 70% vs Juniata 30%
Ramius Prediction
Cal Lutheran vs Springfield: Springfield 3-2
Southern Virginia vs Juniata: Southern Virginia 3-1