GLENSIDE, Pa. - The tenth-ranked Arcadia University men's volleyball team split their home tri-match versus #7 Juniata College and #9 Vassar College on Saturday afternoon. The Knights downed Juniata in a thrilling five-set comeback, while the Knights fell to Vassar, 3-1, in this afternoon's finale. 

#10 ARCADIA 3, #7 JUNIATA 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Knights were in control in the early stages of the first set before a four-point swing put the Eagles out in front, 13-11. A Robie Moctezuma kill staked the Knights to a 17-16 lead, but Juniata earned nine of the last eleven points of the set to take the first, 25-19.

-Leading 12-9 in the second set, the Knights ripped off six-consecutive points to take a nine-point lead, powered by kills from Moctezuma and Jarod Pichler along with four Juniata errors. The Eagles battled back to get within two at 22-20, but the Knights drew even in the match behind Austin Braas and Quinn Baily kills to seal the second set, 25-21.

-After the Knights dropped the third set, 25-19, Arcadia staved off defeat and forced a deciding fifth set with a thrilling win in the fourth, 25-21. Arcadia held a one-point lead in the latter stages of the set before Braas and Jason Manley delivered two kills each as the Knights claimed seven of the final 11 points of the fourth.

-Arcadia got off to a quick start in the fifth by taking five of the first six points as Paraskevov - after a huge fourth-set performance - and Anthony Devantier each provided kills. Juniata answered right back with three-straight points to cut the deficit to one before the two sides alternated the next six points. Braas and Devantier came up with two huge kills to stake the Knights to a three-point lead at 10-7, but the Eagles came back to get within one yet again, resulting in a 12-11 Knight lead.

-A Juniata service error and a Paraskevov ace got the Knights to match point at 14-11, and despite two Eagle points to get within one point of drawing even, Manley provided the match-clinching kill to lift Arcadia to the top-ten victory.

KNIGHT LEADERS
-Kills: Manley 16, Braas 9
-Aces: Manley/Pichler/Baily
-Blocks: Moctezuma 6, Manley 3
-Assists: Devantier 44
-Digs: Manley/Pichler 14

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Juniata held the edge in kills, 59-52 and aces, 9-4.
-Arcadia led the match in blocks, 12-7, as Moctezuma provided half of the Knights' total.
-The Knights finished the match with a .261 hitting percentage, while the Eagles came in at .183.

#10 ARCADIA 1, #9 VASSAR 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Brewers controlled the opening set with a 25-20 victory. Vassar controlled play early with an 8-3 run to open the match. The Knights would trim their deficit, but trailed the Brewers for the entire first set.

- The score was tightly-contested early in the second set with neither team leading by more than two points. However, Vassar began to distance themselves with a 4-0 run midway through the stanza, 17-13. The Knights cut their deficit within two points, but surrendered three straight points to end the set, 25-20.

- The Knights stayed alive with a dominating third set, 25-12. After surrendering the first point, Arcadia responded with a 11-2 run to take their first lead of the match. After the Brewers finally put an end to the Knights 10-0 run, Arcadia rallied for five unanswered points to take a commanding 16-3 lead.

- Vassar pulled away midway through the fourth set with a 7-1 rally, which gave the squad a 21-13 lead. The Brewers then tallied four of the next six points to defeat the Knights in four sets, 25-15.  

KNIGHT LEADERS
-Kills: Manley 11, Pichler 9
-Blocks: Braas 4
-Assists: Devantier 39
-Digs: Manley 10

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Vassar had seven aces, while the Knights failed to record an ace.
- The Brewers held a 52-43 advantage in kills.
- The Knights tallied eight blocks, while Vassar only had three.

UP NEXT
No. 10 Arcadia (4-4) travels to Messiah Wednesday night for its Middle Atlantic Conference opener at 7 p.m.