Huntingdon, Pa. – For the first time in league history, the MCVL can brag about an NCAA tournament win. Wittenberg, which last weekend won the MCVL tournament in front of its home crowd, traveled here for a first-round NCAA match-up against Wentworth. The Tigers will advance to the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship's second round tomorrow afternoon after a historic 3-1 win over the Leopards. Wittenberg will face host Juniata at 4:00p ET.
Now winners of 12 matches in a row, tonight didn't start out well for Wittenberg. After dropping the first set, 25-21, the Tigers completely turned the tide with dominant wins in the next three, 25-20, 25-17 and 25-20. "We stayed composed and confident," said Witt head coach Jamie Peterson after the match. "Our setters did a great job spreading out the offense, making us very hard to stop."
It was a total team push from Wittenberg, which outhit (.214-.128 hit percentages), outblocked (8.5-5.0), outdug (46-43), and out-aced (4-3) its opponent. Eli Halverson, Michael Yurk, Harrison Mitchell, and Zach Newton each had nine kills to lead the team. Newton and Reese Monnin had two blocks each, while Halverson had a team-high 15 digs.
Juniata earned a first-round bye in the NCAA tournament. The Eagles were an outstanding 29-2 entering the weekend and were ranked second in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll of Division III's top teams.
Link to Wittenberg's match summary on WittenbergTigers.com
MCVL NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2026 > Wittenberg 3, Wentworth 1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-20) First Round
2025 > Springfield 3, Mount Union 2 (25-18, 22-25, 23-25, 25-15, 15-12) First Round
2024 > Loras 3, Trine 2 (25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 14-16) First Round
2023 > Juniata 3, Baldwin Wallace 0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-18) First Round
2022 > Carthage 3, Mount Union 0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-20) First Round
2021 > Messiah 3, Fontbonne 2 * (24-26, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 15-11) First Round
2020 > No NCAA championship (COVID-19)
2019 > UC Santa Cruz 3, Fontbonne 2 * (26-24, 25-21, 24-26, 20-25, 15-6) First Round
2018 > Dominican, IL 3, Carthage 1 * (14-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23) First Round (Quarterfinals)
2017 > Stevens 3, Dominican, IL 1 * (25-21, 25-17, 26-28, 25-23) First Round (Quarterfinals)
2016 > Stevenson 3, Carthage 1 * (25-21, 29-27, 25-27, 25-18) First Round (Quarterfinals)
2015 > No qualifier
* No longer member of league