GLENSIDE – The Arcadia University men's volleyball team defeated Misericordia University 3-1 in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) action before falling 3-1 to California Lutheran University inside Alumni Gymnasium during the first day of the Knight Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Knights stand at 2-0 in league play and 3-7 overall after the day.
 
Arcadia held a 15-14 lead in set one against Misericordia before the Cougars used a 9-3 run to take a 24-18 advantage. Five straight points by the Knights brought the tally to 24-23 before Misericordia got that elusive final point.
 
Arcadia raced out to an 8-3 lead in the second set, holding an advantage until the Cougars ties the score at 18. The Knights kept plugging away, tying the match with a 25-22 set-two victory.
 
In set three, neither team gave an inch as the largest score was four points when Arcadia held a 17-13 lead. Misericordia took the lead at 21-20 before the Knights again finished a set strong, taking the final five points to take a 25-21 win and a two-sets-to-one advantage.
 
Set four was another exciting affair with Arcadia taking a 15-10 lead, but the Cougars were up for the fight again, holding a 24-23 lead. The Knights would not be denied, however, taking the set 27-25 and the match three sets to one.
 
Danny Gonzalez led Arcadia with 11 kills while Collin Nissley added nine. Anthony Devantier totaled 33 assists while Gonzalez also contributed nine digs and four service aces.
 
In match two, Cal Lutheran jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking the first set 25-13.
 
In the second set, the Knights took a 13-9 lead, maintaining their distance to secure the second stanza 25-20 and tie the match at one set apiece.
 
Arcadia jumped out to a 4-1 lead before the Kingsmen gained the advantage at 11-7. The Knights tied the score at 11 with a 4-0 run Cal Lutheran regained its four-point cushion at 17-13. Arcadia closed the deficit to 23-21 before the Kingsmen took the last two points, gaining a two-sets-to-one lead with a 25-21 victory.
 
In the fourth set, Cal Lutheran took a 16-9 lead, growing it to 18-10 en route to a 25-17 set victory and a 3-1 match final.
 
Dylan Zimmerman led the Knights with 11 kills. Devantier added 29 assists while Gonzalez totaled six digs.
 
Arcadia returns to the court tomorrow at noon for day two of the Knight Invitational, when it will face Eastern Mennonite University and Baruch College.