Lakers Shock #1 DuPage, Advance to First-Ever National Championship

Glen Ellyn, IL - The Finger Lakes Community College Lakers delivered a statement win on the national stage, knocking off the #1-seeded College of DuPage in a 3-1 semifinal victory to punch their ticket to the first-ever NJCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship.

The Lakers showcased a balanced and efficient offensive attack, hitting an impressive .296 as a team while totaling 54 kills. Leading the way was Ethan Bond (Phelps, N.Y. / Midlakes), who turned in a dominant performance with 21 kills on a .350 hitting percentage, adding 12 digs to anchor both sides of the ball. Zach Sipos (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy) and Jackson Blaszow (Chittenango) each added 13 kills, hitting .321 and .296 respectively, providing key offensive support throughout the match.

Running the offense was Cole Thomas (Fayetteville, N.Y. / Chittenango), who dished out 48 assists while helping guide a well-rounded attack that kept the top-seeded Chaparrals off balance all match long. Dominick Alverado (York, PA. / Northeastern) contributed six kills on a strong .308 hitting clip, continuing the Lakers' theme of efficiency across the lineup.

Defensively, the Lakers were just as sharp, recording 40 total digs. Ethan Bond again led the way with 12, while Jack Donovan (Oswego, N.Y. / Oswego) added 10 and Sipos chipped in eight. The team also applied pressure from the service line, tallying six aces in the match.

The Lakers will now take on the winner of Nassau Community College vs. Ocean County College in the national championship match, scheduled for 6:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM CT tomorrow.