SAINT LOUIS, Mo. – The Panthers played fantastic volleyball at the 2018 NCVF Championships. Davenport went undefeated in Pool F (3-0), then went undefeated in Pool HR (2-0), and advanced to the semifinals of the Gold Bracket before being ousted by Lincoln College. Nathanael Vander Meer, Khari Jones, and Jason Mais were the leaders for DU. Vander Meer landed first team all-tourney honors, while Mais and Jones received honorable mention. The 2017-18 season has come to a close for Davenport, who finished 32-11 overall.
 
MATCH 1 (The College of New Jersey) (Pool F-Match 1)
Final Score: Davenport 2, New Jersey-0
Location: Saint Louis
Record: Davenport 26-10
Set Scores: 25-13, 25-10

STAT LEADERS
Kills: Vander Meer (10)
Total Attacks: Vander Meer (25)
Hitting Percentage (Minimum 5 attacks): Jason Mais (.600)
Assists: Jones (19)
Service Aces: Vander Meer (2)
Block Solo: Jake Fleming (1)
Block Assist: Jacob Mais (4)
Digs: Jones (13)
Points: Vander Meer (13)
 
MATCH 2 (Dartmouth College) (Pool F-Match 2)
Final Score: Davenport 2, Dartmouth-0
Location: Saint Louis
Record: Davenport 27-10
Set Scores: 25-12, 25-22

STAT LEADERS
Kills: Vander Meer (9)
Total Attacks: Vander Meer (22)
Hitting Percentage (Minimum 5 attacks): Fleming (.429)
Assists: Jones (15)
Service Aces: Vander Meer/Kevin DeYoung (2)
Block Solo: Vander Meer (1)
Block Assist: Joseph Tubman/Jacob Mais/Fleming (2)
Digs: Jones (9)
Points: Vander Meer (12.5)
 
MATCH 3 (Washington University in St. Louis) (Pool F-Match 3)
Final Score: Davenport 2, Washington-0
Location: Saint Louis
Record: Davenport 28-10
Set Scores: 25-17, 25-16

STAT LEADERS
Kills: Vander Meer (13)
Total Attacks: Vander Meer (22)
Hitting Percentage (Minimum 5 attacks): DeYoung (.625)
Assists: Jones (19)
Service Aces: Jason Mais (3)
Block Solo: Jason Mais (1)
Block Assist: Jason Mais (3)
Digs: Jones (7)
Points: Vander Meer (13)
 
MATCH 4 (Creighton University) (Pool HR-Match 1)
Final Score: Davenport 2, Creighton-0
Location: Saint Louis
Record: Davenport 29-10
Set Scores: 25-21, 25-20

STAT LEADERS
Kills: Vander Meer (11)
Total Attacks: Vander Meer (26)
Hitting Percentage (Minimum 5 attacks): DeYoung (.500)
Assists: Fleming (14)
Service Aces: DeYoung (3)
Block Solo: Vander Meer (1)
Block Assist: Jason Mais (3)
Digs: Jones (8)
Points: Vander Meer (13)
 
MATCH 5 (The College at Brockport) (Pool HR-Match 2)
Final Score: Davenport 2, Brockport-0
Location: Saint Louis
Record: Davenport 30-10
Set Scores: 25-22, 25-20

STAT LEADERS
Kills: Vander Meer (10)
Total Attacks: Vander Meer (22)
Hitting Percentage (Minimum 5 attacks): Vander Meer (.455)
Assists: Fleming (19)
Service Aces: DeYoung (2)
Block Solo: Vander Meer (1)
Block Assist: Tubman (4)
Digs: Jones (5)
Points: Vander Meer (11)
 
MATCH 6 (University of St. Thomas) (Gold Bracket-Round of 16)
Final Score: Davenport 2, St. Thomas-0
Location: Saint Louis
Record: Davenport 31-10
Set Scores: 25-21, 26-24

STAT LEADERS
Kills: Vander Meer (15)
Total Attacks: Vander Meer (37)
Hitting Percentage (Minimum 5 attacks): Jason Mais (.286)
Assists: Fleming (23)
Service Aces: Jason Mais/Fleming (1)
Block Solo: N/A
Block Assist: Jacob Mais (3)
Digs: Jones (10)
Points: Vander Meer (16)
 
MATCH 7 (Loyola Marymount University) (Gold Bracket-Quarterfinals)
Final Score: Davenport 2, Loyola Marymount 1
Location: Saint Louis
Record: Davenport 32-10
Set Scores: 22-25, 25-23, 15-10

STAT LEADERS
Kills: Vander Meer (13)
Total Attacks: Vander Meer (34)
Hitting Percentage (Minimum 5 attacks): DeYoung (.500)
Assists: Fleming (25)
Service Aces: Fleming (1)
Block Solo: Vander Meer (1)
Block Assist: Tubman (6)
Digs: Jones (10)
Points: Vander Meer (15.5)
 
MATCH 8 (Lincoln College) (Gold Bracket-Semifinals))
Final Score: Davenport 1, Lincoln-2
Location: Saint Louis
Record: Davenport 32-11
Set Scores: 25-23, 22-25, 15-10

STAT LEADERS
Kills: Vander Meer (20)
Total Attacks: Vander Meer (54)
Hitting Percentage (Minimum 5 attacks): DeYoung (.429)
Assists: Fleming (28)
Service Aces: Jason Mais/DeYoung (1)
Block Solo: Gyrez Gaspard/DeYoung (1)
Block Assist: Fleming (3)
Digs: Jones (15)
Points: Vander Meer (20.5)
 
Coaches Corner
Head Coach David Vander Meer stated the following after the game. "I am very proud of the team and their accomplishments. They were very focused and determined the whole tourney. Three guys received all tourney honors. N. Vander Meer received first team and Jones/Jason Mais received honorable mention."
 
Season in Review
The Panthers finished the season 32-11 overall and an impressive 18-2 at home. Davenport won the tournament they hosted on December 9, sweeping all six teams they faced. Then at the WVC D2 Showcase in the Milwaukee Sting Center the Panthers made it all the way to the semifinals in the Gold Bracket before being knocked off by Lincoln College. Next at the GLMVC Championship, hosted by Davenport, on March 3 saw Davenport fall in the Championship game to Central Michigan University 2-1. At the MIVA D2 Championships, on March 24 and 25, saw the Panthers take second place. Lastly, in a field of 48 teams, Davenport made it all the way to the semifinals in the Gold Bracket, falling to Lincoln College 2-1.
 
Stat Leaders
Kills-Vander Meer (542)
Assists-Christopher Croft (650)
Service Aces-Vander Meer (29)
Digs-Jones (342)
Blocks-Vander Meer/Jacob Mais (63)
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Tyler Triemstra