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Associate Editor | Jonathan Bates
Lincoln Memorial won its fifth straight Independent Volleyball Association (IVA) championship on Saturday evening on the campus of Queens with a sweep of the Royals, 25-20, 25-21, 25-15.
In fact, the Railsplitters did not drop a set this weekend as they extended the nation’s longest active winning streak to 19 matches. Their 22 victories this year are most in program history.
The Railsplitters advanced to the championship match by defeating No. 5 seed Maryville on Friday night, 25-15, 25-16, 25-15. Railsplitters opposite Justin Sharfenaker led the offensive attack with 12 kills on a .417 attack percentage while the defensive effort was led by 10 digs from libero Tate Colebaugh.
Queens advanced to the championship match by completing a reverse sweep over No. 3 seed Limestone on Friday evening, 22-25, 25-27, 25-20, 25-18, 22-20. Middle attacker Stirling Sims had six of the Royals’ 11 aces in the winning effort.
Maryville advanced to the semifinals by defeating No. 4 seed Tusculum in the quarterfinals, 26-24, 22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 16-14 on Friday afternoon. Pioneer opposite Jacob Whyte finished with 24 kills on a .435 attack percentage in a losing effort.
Limestone advanced to the semifinals by defeating No. 6 seed Alderson Broaddus, 25-22, 25-14, 25-18 in the quarterfinals in the opening match of the tournament. The Saints had 11 aces, the fourth time they had ten or more aces in a match this season.
In the fifth place match, Alderson Broaddus won their first postseason match under coach Lauren Havill when the Battlers defeated Tusculum in four games (21-25, 25-23, 25-19,25-23) on Saturday afternoon. Alderson Broaddus was led by Nate Rogers’ double-double (16 kills, 11 digs) and a career-high 11 digs from libero Jeffrey Phanphilathip.
Limestone secured third place as they defeated Maryville in four games (23-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-16) on Saturday afternoon. Limestone was led out outside attacker James Chretien’s seventh double-double of the year as his pitched in with 15 kills and 14 digs.
Lincoln Memorial attacked at .354 clip over the two matches, led by outside attacker Cole Campisano’s 22 kills. For this effort, Campisano was named the 2023 IVA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. They led all teams with four selections to the all-tournament team.
2023 IVA All-Tournament Team
Cole Campisano, Lincoln Memorial (Most outstanding player)
Tate Colebaugh, Lincoln Memorial
Shay Spadaro, Lincoln Memorial
Matthew Gentry, Lincoln Memorial
Guillermo Jordan, Queens
Matthew Pilch, Queens
Joe Nicometo, Maryville
James Chretien, Limestone