Lancaster, PA - The Southern Virginia University men's volleyball team kicked off the 2024 season on Saturday afternoon with impressive back-to-back sweeps against Eastern University and Lancaster Bible College.

Ranked #4 in the nation, the Knights asserted their dominance early in the first match. They initiated a commanding 4-point run followed by a six-point surge, establishing a 12-4 lead and ultimately securing a convincing 25-10 set win. The momentum carried into the second set, which ended with a 25-12 score, and the Knights sealed the game with a 25-18 finish in the third set.

In the opening match, all players contributed, with 11 Knights earning points. Jeremy Brown stood out, achieving a career-high in kills with 16 on just 22 attempts, boasting an impressive 63.6% success rate and accumulating 20.0 points in the match. Christian Sheaffer also played a vital role, contributing 13 points and nine kills.

The second game presented more challenges for the Knights, with the first set seeing a back-and-forth battle until they secured a 25-15 victory with crucial points from Jayton Hall, Jeremy Brown, and consecutive service aces. The Chargers sought retaliation in the second set, establishing a 9-4 advantage, but the Knights staged a comeback, scoring eight consecutive points and closing the set with a Tyler Martin service ace for a 25-21 win.

Despite Lancaster taking the lead in the third set with a 19-21 advantage, Southern Virginia once again showcased resilience, scoring six straight points to secure a final set victory of 25-21.

Christian Sheaffer, Brown, and Hall emerged as the kill leaders for the Knights with 8, 7, and 7 respectively. Christian also made a significant impact with four aces, totaling seven for the day.

The Knights have a quick turnaround, returning home for a match Tuesday, Jan.16th. They will take on Averett University in Knight Arena at 7 p.m.