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Local talent powers CLU men's volleyball into another Final Four
TL;DR
Cal Lutheran University's men's volleyball team, featuring local talent, is set to compete in the NCAA Division III Final Four against Springfield College. The match will take place on April 23, with Cal Lutheran aiming for another national championship berth.
Key points
- Cal Lutheran men's volleyball team is in the NCAA Division III Final Four
- They will play against Springfield College on April 23
- Braden Gonzales is a notable player on the team
- Cal Lutheran has a record of 23-6 this season
- The match represents a homecoming for Gonzales
Mentioned in this story
Thousand Oaks High SchoolMoorpark College
Cal Lutheran UniversitySpringfield CollegeBraden Gonzales
Braden Gonzales knows all about homecoming.
Cal Lutheran University’s star libero, once a standout at Thousand Oaks High School, played his first year of collegiate volleyball at Springfield College in Massachusetts before returning to Moorpark College and finally donning a Kingsman jersey for his junior and senior seasons.
On April 23, a Cal Lutheran roster loaded with Ventura County talent is hunting for another national championship berth, back where it all began for Gonzales.
Cal Lutheran (23-6) will play at Springfield College (23-3), the No. 1 team in the nation, at 2 p.m. Thursday in the NCAA Division III Final Four.
“Once I ended up at Cal Lu, I was like, that is the goal right there,” Gonzales said of his return to Springfield. “Every single time I have envisioned anything successful happening this entire season, that has been the image — us, ending up here, in this position. There is really nothing I wanted more than being able to finish my career back where I started.”
Cal Lutheran libero Braden Gonzales celebrates a point win during a 3-2 victory over MIT in the regional championship on April 18, 2026, in Hoboken, New Jersey, to advance to the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Division III men's volleyball tournament.
It is Cal Lutheran’s third Final Four appearance in a row after winning the national title in 2024.
The semifinal match will be broadcast live on NCAA.com. The NCAA championship game will be available at the same website at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Gonzales, who set a program record for digs in a season (301) during a reverse sweep of MIT on April 18 in Hoboken, New Jersey, to win a regional title, is just the tip of the iceberg.
Five locals, including junior outside Tyler Linville of Thousand Oaks High, senior outside Aidan Godfrey of Westlake High, junior outside Evan Ford of Royal High and junior setter Garrett Ream, also of Royal, play for the Kingsmen.
Q&A
What is the date and time of the Cal Lutheran volleyball Final Four match?
The Cal Lutheran volleyball team will play on April 23 at 2 p.m.
Who is Cal Lutheran's opponent in the NCAA Division III Final Four?
Cal Lutheran will face Springfield College, the No. 1 team in the nation.
What is Cal Lutheran's current record heading into the Final Four?
Cal Lutheran has a record of 23 wins and 6 losses.
Which local player is highlighted in the Cal Lutheran volleyball team?
Braden Gonzales, a standout libero from Thousand Oaks High School, is a key player for Cal Lutheran.
