Lakers Men’s Volleyball Makes History: FLCC Captures First-Ever NJCAA National Championship

Glen Ellyn, IL - The Finger Lakes Community College men's volleyball team completed a historic run to the top, defeating Ocean County College 3-1 to capture the program's first-ever NJCAA National Championship.

The Lakers' path to the title was nothing short of impressive. In the opening round, FLCC took down Union College 3-1, a team they had previously lost to twice during the regular season. They followed that up with a statement victory in the semifinals, knocking off #1 seeded College of DuPage 3-1. DuPage entered the match undefeated against junior college opponents and as the defending invitational champions, but the Lakers rose to the occasion and ended their dominant run.

In the championship match, FLCC delivered a complete team performance, combining an efficient offensive attack with strong defense at the net. As a team, the Lakers hit an outstanding .310 while totaling 54 kills and 50 assists.

Leading the offense was Zach Sipos (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy), who dominated with 19 kills on an incredible .486 hitting percentage. Ethan Bond (Phelps, N.Y. / Midlakes) added 14 kills and 8 digs, while  Jackson Blaszkow (Chittenango) contributed 12 kills and 5 digs, giving the Lakers a balanced and relentless attack.

Setter Cole Thomas (Fayetteville, N.Y. / Chittenango) once again orchestrated the offense with 48 assists, while also adding 2 service aces. At the net,  Braden Whitcomb (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy) was a force, totaling 10 blocks and helping disrupt Ocean County's offense all night long.

Defensively, Jack Donovan (Oswego, N.Y. / Oswego) anchored the back row as he has all tournament with a match-high 14 digs, leading a Lakers squad that finished with 37 digs and 23 total blocks.

After dropping the third set, the Lakers closed out the match in convincing fashion to secure the title.

The Lakers' dominance was recognized on the national stage, with Cole Thomas, Jackson Blaszkow, and Zach Sipos earning spots on the 2026 All-Tournament Team. Ethan Bond was named Tournament MVP for his standout performances throughout the championship run, while Head Coach Frank Clark was honored as the 2026 National Coach of the Year.

With the win, Finger Lakes not only claims its first NJCAA National Championship, but also etches its name in history as the inaugural champion of the NJCAA Men's Volleyball National Tournament.