2009 National Champions
Prior to 2009, the Lindenwood Lions men’s volleyball team had made three appearances in the national championship match but came up short every time. That all changed when the 2009 Lions finally broke through. The Lions began the season ranked number four in the national rankings but the regular season began with a loss to Lewis. Lindenwood rebounded by winning the next 11 matches. That streak ended with back-to-back losses to California Baptist, but that would be the last time the Lions would loss a match that season. Lindenwood went 20-0 for the rest of the regular season, losing just 12 sets in that span, and also captured the MAMVIC regular season championship with a perfect 10-0 mark.
With the regular season over the Lions moved on to the MAMVIC conference tournament as the number one seed. The Lions won the tournament with a pair of 3-0 sweeps. Next up for Lindenwood was the NAIA National Invitational Tournament, which it entered as the number two seed. Lindenwood defeated both Park and Hope International in pool play in four games, and the Lions advanced to bracket play. In the semifinals, the Lions shutout Cardinal Stritch three games to none.
Next up for the Lions was the national championship game against familiar finals foe, California Baptist. The Lions had lost to California Baptist in two of their three previous trips to the national championship game, but Lindenwood finally got over that hurdle with a 30-20, 30-28, and 30-27 victory. Jared Kreienkamp had 15 kills in the championship match and Devin Shiroma had a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs. Mike Larson had 32 assists, and Dan Laure blocked eight attempts. The Lions hit .264 for the match and held the Lancers to just a .135 mark.
Lindenwood finished the 2009 season with a 37-3 mark.
