By Cam Fors
For Springfield College men’s volleyball, redemption came with hard work, chemistry, and a relentless sense of trust–qualities that standout player Jake Deslauriers embodies to a tee. After falling short in last year’s national championship, the Pride returned to the bright lights of the biggest game with purpose, sweeping Carthage 3-0 on Saturday night to claim the title and complete their comeback story.
Deslauriers contributed 16 kills in the championship match, eclipsing his previous career high of 14. He pointed to the environment around the program as the key to the team’s success. “I think it starts with the community that’s built here,” he said. “You saw all the stands, you saw all the crowd.” That energy was evident throughout the match, as a packed Blake Arena fueled Springfield’s momentum from the opening serve.
That momentum, Deslauriers explained, translated directly onto the court. “You could see that was kind of the momentum that helped us really kickstart our entire offense and be the defense.” Springfield played with a balance that Carthage struggled to counter: powerful, consistent hitting paired with a very disciplined defense.
But beyond his play on the court, Deslauriers emphasized the team’s mental edge and unity. “I think it’s kudos to our drive, and our ability to be with each other, and then take it all the way to the end to that last point when the ball dropped,” he said, reflecting on how the team stayed together until the championship clinching moment. That final point wasn’t just the end of a match, but a response to him and his teammates from just over a year ago, when they left the gym with disappointment.
Although Deslauriers had himself one of the most spectacular games of his career, he firmly asserts that Springfield’s journey back to the top of Division III volleyball wasn’t defined by any individual performances alone, but by collective trust that extended beyond those on the floor. Deslauriers highlighted the importance of every player in the program, whether they saw playing time or not. “I think it’s that trust that we all have together,” he said. “Even the guys who aren’t playing, I know they’re gonna have my back no matter what.”
That trust was visible in every set. Huge celebrations, explosive high fives, and lots of interaction with the Pride faithful up in the bleachers. It’s what allowed Deslauriers and Springfield to play freely under pressure and at their highest level in key moments throughout the championship match.
For Deslauriers and his teammates, the championship title represents more than a win; it’s a show of their resilience and their commitment to one another. A year after falling short, Springfield returned determined, and this time, they made sure there was no unfinished business.
Photo by Emma Bynes/The Student