East Ventura News

The Cal Lutheran men’s volleyball team emerged victorious in the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship held on Sunday, April 28, in Dubuque, Iowa. The Kingsmen secured a decisive 3-0 victory over the Vassar College Brewers with scores of 25-22, 25-23, 25-23.

Reflecting on the team's triumph, head coach Kevin Judd expressed his pride, stating, “The Kingsmen can now call themselves champions. The 17 strong; these past two weeks showed that we were 17 strong.”

Michael Stahl's outstanding performance on the court earned him the title of Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Stahl, along with Jordan Cooper, Taylor Marks, and Logan Marks, were recognized for their contributions and named to the All-Tournament Team.

Stahl's exceptional display included 23 kills with an impressive .525 attack percentage. Other notable performances came from Ben Weber and Cooper with seven kills each, Borys Horiuk with five, Parker Brown with three, and T. Marks with one.

Taylor Marks showcased his versatility by delivering a double-double performance, providing 43 assists to keep the Kingsmen offense in full flow, while also registering a team-high 10 digs. Logan Marks supported the defense with eight digs, and Horiuk displayed strength at the net with four total blocks, two of which were solo. Cooper, Stahl, and Matthew Wilcox also contributed with solo blocks.

The team's depth and camaraderie were evident as Trent Rigney, Jake Tucker, and other members of the squad made valuable contributions during the championship match. Tucker's crucial dig in the third set that led to a point exemplified the collective effort of the team.

The roster of the victorious Cal Lutheran men’s volleyball team also includes Vince Semon, Connor Crawford, Grant Hughes, Braden Swenningsen, Ryker Linn, Landen Meonske, and Noah Rigo, all of whom played a part in the team's success.

For further details and updates, interested individuals can visit CLUsports.com.