Buena Vista, VA - Adding to the sweet feeling of advancing to the NCAA Men's Volleyball Division lll final four last weekend, the Southern Virginia University men's volleyball team has more reasons to celebrate. Four of its own, Christian Sheaffer, Gehrig Tolman, Justin Madsen, and Samuel Candland, were selected as AVCA Men's Volleyball Division lll All-Americans.

1st Team - Christian Sheaffer
2nd Team - Gehrig Tolman
Honorable Mention - Samuel Candland, Justin Madsen

For the third consecutive season, outside hitter Christian Sheaffer appears on the AVCA First Team All-America. Remarkably, Sheaffer improved further from an historic junior season and has led his team to its first berth in the national semifinal since his arrival. He's recorded over 400 kills, a .437 hitting percentage, 67 aces, and 92 blocks, each of those marks being the most in a season in program history.

Sheaffer's rise to national stardom is a product of his superb play on the attack, and defensively. He also recorded over 100 digs for the second time and was named CVC Player of the Year and Tournament MOP for the second time.

In his first year with the program, setter Gehrig Tolman has fit in with the team seamlessly and has been selected to the AVCA Second Team All-America for his efforts. The Knights were in need of a setter after last season, and Tolman has turned in one of the most prolific playmaking seasons in program history. His 958 assists is the most during a single-season in program history, and close to being the first to break 1,000.

Tolman's been a steady hand on the attack after transferring before the fall semester. He's recorded at least 30 assists in 17 matches, eclipsing 50 once. Tolman was also a CVC First Team All-Conference member with Sheaffer. It's Tolman's first appearance on the All-America teams.

As an encore to his First Team selection last season, the libero Justin Madsen was just as good, if not better, in his senior season and finds himself as an AVCA Honorable Mention All-America. Madsen has starred in the most successful era of the program's young history. This season, Madsen has 230 digs and could establish a new career high this weekend.

He shined in the Knights' first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, recording a combined 22 digs in their two matches and was a catalyst in the semifinal comeback over Messiah. Madsen will play a pivotal role in Southern Virginia's attempt at a national championship this weekend.

For the second time in his career, senior opposite Samuel Candland has been named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-America. After bowing out in the NCAA Tournament last season, Candland came back with a vengeance in 2025, delivering his best season yet. His 189 kills are a career-high, and he's been a huge source of energy in the Knights' tournament run so far.

Candland is also hitting at the best clip of his career, evident by a .389 hitting percentage. His back-to-back points in the third set of the CVC Tournament Final two weekends ago helped capture the program's fifth conference title. He promises to play a key role in Southern Virginia's quest to capture an elusive National Championship crown this weekend.

For the most up-to-date information and details on the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knightmvolleyball on Instagram.