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On a packed April night inside historic Blake Arena, Springfield College men’s volleyball reminded Division III why it has long been the sport’s gold standard. The top-ranked Pride swept No. 3 Carthage College 29-27, 25-21, 25-16 on April 25, 2026, to claim the 2026 NCAA Division III men’s volleyball national championship in front of an announced crowd of 2,000 fans in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The victory delivered Springfield its sixth NCAA Division III men’s volleyball title and 12th national championship overall when including six Molten Division III titles earned before the NCAA began sponsoring the sport. The Pride closed the season at 25-3, ending an eight-year NCAA championship drought that dated back to 2018, while Carthage finished 25-4 after seeing a nine-match winning streak and a month-long run without dropping a set come to an abrupt end.
For high school players and families tracking college volleyball recruiting, this match was more than just a sweep. It was a showcase of what an elite Division III culture looks like: experienced coaching, balanced attacking, deep buy-in from seniors, and a home environment that can tilt a championship.
Hosting the national championship at Blake Arena has become something of a tradition for Springfield College and Division III men’s volleyball. In 2012, the inaugural NCAA Division III men’s volleyball final was played on the same floor, with Springfield sweeping Carthage to set the standard for the new era of the sport.
Fourteen years later, the scene felt familiar. The home crowd, announced at 2,000, packed into Blake Arena and stayed loud from first serve to final point. Students, alumni, and families turned the championship into a true home-court advantage, helping the Pride steady themselves in critical moments and turn momentum swings into extended scoring runs.
That atmosphere mattered most in the opening set, when Springfield nearly slipped into an early hole before clawing back to win 29-27. Once the Pride escaped that frame, the crowd only grew louder, and the defending Carthage side never truly recovered.
The 2026 championship was the latest chapter in a rivalry that has quietly defined NCAA Division III men’s volleyball since the tournament’s creation. According to the NCAA Division III men’s volleyball tournament history, Springfield and Carthage have consistently been among the sport’s most dominant programs, and their head-to-head record in national finals tells a compelling story.
Since the NCAA began sponsoring the sport in 2012, Springfield and Carthage have now met three times in the title match:
With the 2026 result, Springfield now owns six of the 14 NCAA Division III titles decided since 2012, while Carthage has captured two. Together, the programs have combined for eight championships in that span, underscoring how central this rivalry has been to the sport’s growth and visibility.
For recruits, that consistency matters. Choosing a program that regularly plays on championship weekend often means better training environments, higher expectations, and more competitive practices, even at the Division III level.
Behind Springfield’s extended run stands head coach Charlie Sullivan, one of the most accomplished leaders in college men’s volleyball at any level. Under his direction, Springfield has captured all 12 of its national championships, spanning both the pre-NCAA Molten Division III era and the modern NCAA tournament.
That level of sustained success is rare in any collegiate sport. Programs cycle through recruiting classes, assistant coaches, and conference rivals, yet Springfield continues to reset the bar. Sullivan’s teams are known for technical precision, balanced offense, and the ability to peak at the right time in April.
While public NCAA records focus on titles, families and athletes should also note what that means day to day: highly structured practices, clear role expectations, and a track record of player development. Springfield’s 2026 championship group was not built overnight. It grew through seasons of deep playoff runs, including the disappointment of falling short of the title between 2019 and 2025.
Ending that eight-year NCAA title drought, especially at home and against a familiar rival, adds another important chapter to Sullivan’s legacy and reaffirms the Pride’s position at the top of Division III.
On the court, the story of the championship started with a tense first set that could have gone either way. Springfield jumped out to an 8-4 lead, riding the home crowd and aggressive serving to put Carthage on its heels. But the Firebirds, who arrived in Springfield without dropping a set in more than a month, quickly settled in.
Carthage’s attack found its rhythm, and the Firebirds surged ahead to a 21-19 lead. They eventually earned two set points at 24-22, putting Springfield on the brink of a deflating 0-1 deficit. In that moment, the Pride’s senior core stepped up.
Senior outside hitter Carter Durivage and fellow pin Jake DesLauriers delivered crucial swings to extend the set, while middle blocker Will Kirchhoff disrupted Carthage at the net. The Firebirds had another chance late, but a service error by attacker Ryan Monahan gave Springfield a narrow edge.
Durivage then finished the job, finding the floor with a kill to close out the 29-27 win. Instead of trailing and feeling the pressure of chasing the match, Springfield walked back to its bench holding a 1-0 lead and most of the momentum.
In championship volleyball, those late-set moments often decide everything. A single serve in or out, a swing choice by a senior, or a block touch at the net can swing a national title. Springfield handled the pressure better in set one, and from there, the match shifted firmly in its favor.
Once Springfield survived the opening frame, the Pride’s offense tightened up and began to showcase why it entered the match as the nation’s top-ranked Division III program. In the second set, Springfield hit an impressive .444, converting 15 kills on 27 swings while maintaining control of the ball and limiting errors.
Carthage pushed again in the middle of the second set, pulling even at 15-15. But Springfield answered with a decisive 5-1 run powered by its offensive balance:
Kirchhoff capped the set with a quick attack through the middle to secure a 25-21 win and a commanding 2-0 lead.
In the third, Springfield once again showed its ability to adjust and close. The Pride led by just 14-13 when Kirchhoff delivered back-to-back kills that cracked the set open. From that point on, Springfield scored 10 of the final 13 points, turning a tight frame into a decisive 25-16 finish.
DesLauriers contributed a late kill, Kirchhoff added a service ace, and fittingly, Durivage delivered the final swing off the Carthage block to clinch the sweep and send the Blake Arena crowd into celebration.
The final box score confirmed what the eye test suggested: Springfield controlled the match in every major phase of the game.
DesLauriers led all attackers with 16 kills on .406 hitting, showcasing efficiency and composure on the biggest stage. Durivage closed his career with 11 kills and eight digs, a classic two-way performance from a senior outside in his final collegiate match.
Kirchhoff was arguably the X-factor in the middle. He finished with seven kills on nine swings for a staggering .778 hitting percentage and contributed a team-high six blocks. His presence not only gave Springfield a reliable scoring threat in the center of the net but also helped slow Carthage’s attack and disrupt its rhythm.
In the back row, libero Ricardo Ortiz collected nine digs, providing stability in serve receive and defense. Senior setter Dylan Mulvaney orchestrated it all with 41 assists, efficiently distributing the ball and keeping Carthage guessing. His performance throughout the tournament earned him Most Valuable Player honors.
Mulvaney, DesLauriers, and Ortiz were all selected to the all-tournament team, underscoring how central that core was to Springfield’s national title run.
Springfield’s 2026 championship did not materialize out of a single hot weekend. The Pride had to navigate a challenging NCAA bracket, starting with a tricky first-round matchup against Buffalo State and then a national semifinal against Cal Lutheran.
Buffalo State’s own athletics department recapped the Bengals’ postseason appearance, noting that their season ended in the NCAA first round at Springfield, a sign of how difficult it is to survive at Blake Arena in April (Buffalo State Athletics). Springfield handled that opening test before sweeping Cal Lutheran in the semifinals to advance again to championship night.
Carthage, meanwhile, arrived with significant momentum. The Firebirds had not dropped a set in more than a month and had navigated a competitive regional to return to the national final, as highlighted in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin’s coverage. That context made Springfield’s straight-set win even more impressive.
By the end of the night, Springfield’s season record stood at 25-3. Carthage, despite the loss, finished at an excellent 25-4. Both records speak to how high the standard is at the top of Division III men’s volleyball and why this rivalry continues to attract attention from recruits and coaches across the country.
For high school men’s volleyball players eyeing college options, Springfield’s title offers a blueprint for what a successful Division III experience can look like. While Division I programs often receive most of the national exposure, Division III volleyball can offer:
Springfield College, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, is a private institution with a long-standing connection to physical education and sport science. The men’s volleyball program reflects that heritage through technical training, strength and conditioning, and attention to detail. You can learn more about the institution’s broader history and mission via its entry on Wikipedia, and by exploring the Pathley College Directory to compare Springfield with similar schools.
From a recruiting standpoint, players considering Division III should pay attention to:
Springfield’s 2026 roster reflected all of this: seniors like Durivage and Mulvaney who stayed and grew within the program, a clear style of play, and contributions from every class on the path to a national title.
Not every athlete will land on Springfield’s roster, and not everyone is seeking a perennial national title contender. The Springfield, Massachusetts area offers several additional colleges that may fit different academic or athletic priorities.
Exploring these schools alongside Springfield College can help families build a well-rounded target list that balances admission chances, scholarship opportunities, and program fit.
Following a national championship like Springfield versus Carthage can be inspiring, but it also raises a big question: where do you fit in the college volleyball landscape? The answer is different for every athlete, and it depends on academics, skill level, location preferences, and more.
Tools like Pathley are designed to make that process clearer and more manageable:
By combining real-world case studies like Springfield’s championship run with data-driven tools and guidance, recruits can move from watching big matches on a stream to building a realistic and exciting plan for their own college volleyball careers.
Springfield College’s sweep of Carthage to win the 2026 NCAA Division III men’s volleyball championship was about more than another banner in Blake Arena. It reinforced several key themes that matter to athletes and families:
As the Pride celebrate their sixth NCAA Division III title and 12th national crown overall, recruits watching from club tournaments and high school gyms across the country can take note. There are many paths to competing at the collegiate level, and programs like Springfield show that you do not have to be at a Division I powerhouse to experience elite coaching, packed gyms, and championship moments.
Whether you are intrigued by Springfield College, interested in other schools in the Springfield area like American International College or Western New England University, or exploring options across the country, building a clear recruiting plan is crucial. Using tools like the Volleyball Pathley Hub and College Fit Snapshot can help you transform inspiration from matches like this into focused action on your own college journey.
