By Tyler Semonich
The Springfield College men’s volleyball program is back on top of the volleyball world, after conquering Carthage in only three sets, to win their 12th national championship. The sport itself has been growing at a rapid pace over the years, and the scene in Blake Arena on Saturday night perfectly captured that growth, as over 1,500 fans filled the arena for the NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship. After getting swept in the championship last year, this season’s Springfield squad led by legendary head coach Charlie Sullivan had one goal in mind; get back to the big game and bring home the gold this time.
A special group of upperclassmen led the Pride to being ranked No. 1 all season, and finished the year with a 25-3 record, as well as a dominant offensive attack that hit .358 on the season, the best hitting percentage in all of Division III.
“When we first came in as freshmen, Coach was always telling us when you graduate you will have those connections for life,” said senior outside hitter Carter Durivage when asked about what this group of seniors means to him. “I truly understand it now, because these guys are all my best friends, going out on top couldn’t be a better way to end our careers.”
Carthage head coach JW Kieckhefer described Durivage as the “Carthage killer”, due to his performances against them in both the national quarterfinals last season, and his 11 kill, .364 hitting percentage production in the National Championship.
This senior class for the Pride is truly a special group, but it wasn’t fully completed when they first arrived on Alden Street as underclassmen. Key additions to the squad’s success were added over time. Outside hitters AJ Seveland and Richard Eber Jr. transferred in prior to the 2025 campaign. The two were often used as serving subs throughout the season, as their electrifying serves disrupted the passing from the opponents back row. But one transfer in particular stood out tonight. Prior to the 2025 campaign the Pride also added Jake DesLauriers, who was previously a Division I pitcher at Hofstra University.
DesLauriers was instrumental in the team’s success this season, and proved pressure is something that he does not feel, as he had a season high and team leading 16 kills in the big game.
“It’s a special community that’s built here. You can see it in the stands and behind our bench, the amount of support is unreal,” said DesLauriers when asked about his performance on the big stage. “I think it all started this morning. Going to breakfast as a team, coming to the locker room and seeing the scouting report, a practice schedule catered towards live action we may see in the game. Getting into the game, feeling the environment and the crowd, and trusting my brothers was huge. Even the guys who aren’t in the game, I know they always have my back and will always support me.”
The first set of the match was a back and forth battle between the two dominant teams, and Springfield found themselves down 24-22. With their backs against the wall early, four-time All-American setter Dylan Mulvaney set Durivage perfectly as a big swing rocketed the ball into the left corner of the court. Still down 24-23, senior middle blocker Will Kirchoff lived up to the moment, as he set a wall in the middle of the net for a block to knot things up at 24 a piece. Both teams would trade blows for the next few points, as fans in Blake Arena roared behind their squad. A service error from Carthage and a high-flying kill from Durivage led the Pride to taking the first set, the first set that Carthage lost the whole tournament.
From that point forward Blake Arena would continue to shake. The balanced Springfield offensive attack, accompanied by great defensive play from junior Libero Ricardo Ortiz, and the roar from the crowd proved to be too chaotic of an environment for the Firebirds to execute like they have all season. The Pride won another competitive set, as Kirchoff fired a big swing through the middle of the floor, to put the Pride up two sets to none.
In the final set of the match, spectators and fans in the arena could feel that nothing was going to stop Springfield from winning it all; it was destiny that the Pride would secure their 12th national championship and put the dynasty on an ever higher pedestal. The bleachers covered in maroon and white, the “SC” chants followed by synchronized claps, the energy of the crowd roared throughout the arena.
Springfield found themselves in the lead at 18-15 late in the third set, but that score must’ve been a little too close for comfort for them, as they went on a four-point streak filled with strong kills, defensive blocks, and a couple errors on the Carthage side due to the harsh environment of the crowd. Destiny was not going to be stopped at this point in the match; after a service error by Springfield, they went on a run for three more points, capped off by Durivage as he flew from the back row to fire a spike into the heart of the Firebird defense. The ball bounced off a couple defenders before landing a distance away from the court.
In the end, this championship run was about more than just a dominant straight-set victory on the biggest stage. It was the culmination of years of trust, resilience, and brotherhood built within the Springfield program. From veteran leadership, to clutch performances in high-pressure moments, to the unwavering energy of a packed Blake Arena, every piece came together at the perfect time. After falling short a year ago, the Pride returned with purpose and delivered in emphatic fashion, solidifying their place atop Division III men’s volleyball once again. As this senior class walks away with a national title, they leave behind not only a legacy of excellence, but a standard that future Springfield teams will chase for years to come.
Photo by Emma Bynes/The Student