Fort Valley State Repeats as SIAC Champions, Earns Return Trip to NCAA Tournament

The FVSU Men's Volleyball team has won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for a second consecutive year with a 3-1 home victory

FORT VALLEY, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – For the second straight year, Fort Valley State University is headed to the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship — and once again, they’re making history.

The Wildcats claimed their second consecutive SIAC title Wednesday afternoon, defeating Edward Waters 3-1 in front of a home crowd. The win not only secures FVSU’s place in the national tournament, but further cements its legacy as the first HBCU to ever make the NCAA men’s volleyball field.

It was a rematch of last week’s Senior Day contest, which also saw the Wildcats come out on top. This time, the stakes were even higher — a conference title and a postseason berth on the line.

The top-seeded Wildcats came out strong, dominating the opening set 25-16. The Tigers, seeded No. 2, responded with a hard-fought 25-23 win in the second after FVSU mounted a comeback to tie it at 23. But Fort Valley regained control, taking the third set 25-16 and closing out the championship with a 25-21 fourth set win.

FVSU finished with 56 kills, 50 assists, 52 digs, and 10 blocks.

As the team celebrated on the court, senior Jaxon Hicks was hoisted by his teammates, and the tournament’s MVP was named: senior outside hitter Oshane Farquharson, who tallied nine kills, 12 digs and 69 assists in the two games of the tournament.

“It honestly caught me off guard,” Farquharson said. “Usually it’s the person with the most kills, and as a setter, I didn’t think I had a shot. I’m just grateful for the group of guys I’m working with — I wouldn’t be in this position without them.”

Head coach Larry Wrather praised his team’s composure and perseverance, especially given the pressure of defending their title and making another NCAA run.

“I can finally take a moment to breathe, knowing now our place in the NCAA Tournament is punched,” Wrather said. “These young men stayed consistent and did what champions do. They stayed composed in a heated moment.”

Wrather, who brought in 12 or 13 new players after graduating 10 last season, emphasized the cultural impact of the team’s success, especially after being the first HBCU team to make the NCAA Championships – now twice.

“Seeing a group of young Black men — for the majority — playing a predominantly Caucasian sport, it lets other young men of color know: I can do anything,” he said.

Wildcats junior Taviian Martin added to coaches statement. “Some kid’s watching us today thinking, ‘I didn’t even know I could play volleyball.’ That brings a tear to your eye.”

Martin continued to echo that sentiment, reflecting on his own journey.

“I was the only person of color on my high school team — and I’m mixed. So it wasn’t even a dream so much as just a shared vision,” he said.

FVSU junior Isaiah Fedd, the lead kill scorer in the championship game reflects on the moment being memorizing. “This is something you tell your grand kids — like, ‘When I was your age, I went to the national championship.’ You realize you’re living in the moment. You’ve got to enjoy it.”

With a second SIAC title now behind them, the Wildcats shift focus to the NCAA Tournament, where they plan to bring the same energy that’s fueled their historic run.

“We’re going to come in with confidence,” Fedd said. “There’s no room to be nervous. We’ve earned this.”

The NCAA Championship begins May 8th in Columbus, Ohio.