04/07/2026
The SUNY Cortland men’s club volleyball team dug deep and spiked the competition, earning a national championship in dominating fashion in early April.
Ten students represented the club’s best at the 2026 National Collegiate Volleyball Federation (NCVF) Championship in Kansas City, Missouri. After an undefeated 9-0 run, they also proved themselves the best country, bringing home a national title in the 60-team Division IIAA.
Cortland won 18 sets and only dropping two during the tournament. The results put them ahead of the likes of runner-up Penn State Harrisburg, Air Force and fellow SUNY squads Oswego and Brockport.
It’s the second time in club history that Cortland has won NCVF honors, the first being in 2009.
For team president James Brussel ’25, a graduate student in health education, it was triumph built over his entire time at the university. Brussel learned about the club late in his first year on campus.
He played volleyball his last two years of high school, and he joined the team after being convinced to try out.
“We had a lot of guys on our team who are very skilled players,” he said. “Nicholas Ferris and Bryce Ceravolo both played at FLCC (Finger Lakes Community College) and won 2 JUCO (junior college) national championships before coming to SUNY Cortland, which helped us out.”
Ferris, a junior, was named to the All-National Tournament First Team, while Brussel and senior Ceravolo earned MVP honors for their division.
From left, men's club volleyball teammates Julian Chidester, Nicholas Ferris, Bodey Groff, Thomas Clonan, Parker McKee, Bryce Ceravolo, Jaxen Montana, Nicholas Whalen, James Brussel and Daniel Kosior.
Brussel also credited sophomore Bodey Groff and senior Parker McKee, who previously competed on Division III teams at Nazareth College and Nichols College respectively.
“Having a lot of experience playing at a high level I think was one of the biggest reasons for us winning the national championship,” Brussel said.
The club volleyball team’s total roster this season included 22 students, with close to an even split between the top A team roster and developing B team. Adjustments are made through the season.
Brussel began on the B team as a sophomore before making the A team and being voted club vice president after his sophomore year. The following spring, he became president and has led the team since.
During Brussel’s junior year in 2024, the team competed at the national championship for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and finished tied for last in its division.
The club improved in 2025, climbing to No. 13 in national rankings, before finishing 21st out of 48 teams at the national competition.
When he returned for his master’s degree, Brussel knew he had to also come back to the team that had potential to win it all.
“If you would’ve told me that I would’ve gone from playing on the B team my sophomore year to being awarded with National All First Team (honors) for our division, I would’ve called you crazy but that is why I love volleyball so much,” Brussel said.
He credited the commitment and growth of the club’s entire roster.
“I would’ve never thought to be this involved with volleyball,” Brussel said. “But joining the club team here was one of the best decisions of my life.”