The 2021 Continental Volleyball Conference tournament field is set with Juniata College, Kean University, Marymount University, Randolph-Macon College, Rutgers University-Newark, and Southern Virginia University all earning the right to compete for this year's tournament title. The field features four schools that have won a previous CVC Tournament title and welcomes one new member to the post-season. The 2021 CVC Tournament will be a three-day tournament beginning on Saturday, April 3 with the semifinals on April 7 and the championship match on April 10.
Tournament Schedule
Quarterfinals - Wednesday, April 3 - At Higher Seed
Match 1: #4 Rutgers-Newark vs. #5 Randolph-Macon
Match 2: #3 Kean vs. #6 Marymount
Semifinals - Saturday, April 7 - At Higher Seed
Match 3: #1 Southern Virginia vs. Winner of Match 1
Match 4: #2 Juniata vs. Winner of Match 2
Championship - Saturday, April 10 - At Higher Seed
Match 5: Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4
| #1 Southern Virginia University KNIGHTS | ||||
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With the cancellation of the 2020 tournament, Southern Virginia is still looking to defend their CVC title they won back in 2019. The Knights picked up the top seed in the tournament for the second straight time after going undefeated in their pod this season. They are led by All-American Nahuel Recabarren. The senior totaled 136 kills this season, averaging 4.25 per set, while hitting .333. Samuel Candland gives the team another option, finishing with 108 kills. The Knights are the most efficient team in the league, hitting a CVC best .325 as a team this season. Kaipo Tagaloa runs the offense and is averaging 9.79 assists per set. Defensively the Knights have three players that finished with over 50 digs, led by Jothan Castillo's 87. They come into the tournament having won nine straight and are ranked #12 in the nation.
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Knights Quick Facts Head Coach: Tom Peterson Knights Stats Hitting Pct: .325 |
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| #2 Juniata College EAGLES | ||||
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Juniata enters as the #9 team in the country, having won five straight matches. They earned a first-round bye by going 7-1 in pod play with their only conference loss this season coming in a five setter to Elizabethtown. The Eagles feature an explosive attack, leading the CVC in kills (618) but also feature the league's best net defense with a conference high 112 blocks. The trio of Tyler Goldsborough, Kevin Duffy, and Robert Bowling all topped triple digits in kills this season. Duffy, an All-American, is one of the premiere middle blockers in the country; hitting .456 and totaling 60 blocks. Reese Ganter thrived in his first season with the team, finishing with 400 assists while Daniel Voronov led the Eagles with 92 digs.
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Eagles Quick Facts Head Coach: Glenn DeHaven Eagles Stats Hitting Pct: .307 |
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| #3 Kean University COUGARS | ||||
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Kean seems to be playing their best ball at the right time, jumping into the national poll this week to a #11 ranking and have won five straight as they start the postseason. The Cougars attack runs through Jared Ray. Ray, just a sophomore, finished with 149 kills; averaging a CVC best 4.81 per set while hitting .372 this spring. The Cougars have rolled through a number of setters this season with four different players recording at least 60 assists. Ian Capp is dangerous anytime he steps to the service line, totaling a team best 19 aces. It is a team defensive effort for the Cougars with five players recording at least 30 digs this season.
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Cougars Quick Facts Head Coach: Charlie Ginex Cougars Stats Hitting Pct: .270 |
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| #4 Rutgers University-Newark SCARLET RAIDERS | ||||
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Rutgers-Newark features one of the league's top hitters in Andrew Zaleck. Zaleck, who earned All-American honors in last year's shortened season, led the CVC in kills this year with 153, averaging 4.03 per set. He also recorded 17 aces, 43 digs, and 27 blocks. His partner on the attack is Arvind Kumar, who finished with 104 kills and 20 aces. The offense is in the hands of another All-American from last year Justin Tuohy, who averaged 8.31 assists per set this spring. Defensively Kumar and Robert Long did most of the work, each totaling over 70 digs while libero Matt Nikishin added 62 digs. The Scarlet Raiders led the league in service aces with 97 as five different players finished with double digit aces.
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Scarlet Raiders Quick Facts Head Coach: Jack Wilson Scarlet Raiders Stats Hitting Pct: .285 |
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| #5 Randolph-Macon College YELLOW JACKETS | ||||
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Randolph-Macon earned their first berth into the CVC Tournament by going 4-3 in their pod play this spring. The Yellow Jackets are a young team, led by sophomores Kolby Gibson and Jarrett Carrano. Gibson led the team with 81 kills, hitting .185, while adding 49 digs. Carrano totaled 71 kills and had 12 aces with 15 blocks. Dayne Iverson roams the middle for the Yellow Jackets, finishing with a team best 25 blocks. Cade Terrell runs the attack, averaging 7.06 assists per set while Connor Logan had a team high 54 digs.
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Yellow Jackets Quick Facts Head Coach: Jared Horrigan Yellow Jackets Stats Hitting Pct: .147 |
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| #6 Marymount University SAINTS | ||||
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Marymount is known for keeping the match going and looking for their opponents to make mistakes, ranking second in the league in digs (443) while playing the second most sets in the league as well. The Saints have three players in triple digit kills with Miles Olson leading the way with 104, while hitting .268 this year. Ervin Harrell notched 102 kills and 71 digs this season while Raymond Tarasi added 100 kills. Grayson Andrews and Sava Topich have combined for over 400 assists this season. Libero Chris Manganiello led the conference at 2.35 digs per set this season.
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Saints Quick Facts Head Coach: Dan Liberto Saints Stats Hitting Pct: .213 |
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