WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Arcadia University men's volleyball team split a tri-match on Saturday, defeating the hosts Wilkes, 3-1, and falling to No. 12 Juniata 3-1. With the win over Wilkes, the Knights improved to 3-1 in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play.
Owen Heft led the Knights offensively, tallying 27 kills over the two matches. Heft had 14 against Wilkes and 13 against Juniata.
Vaughn McConnell dished out 50 assists on the day, 14 against Wilkes and 36 against Juniata. Anthony Devantier had 31 assists against Wilkes.
ARCADIA 3, WILKES 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Arcadia 25, Wilkes 17
The Knights took an early 10-6 lead, but the Colonels won five straight points to take an 11-10 lead. Arcadia won the next two points to retake the lead, 12-11, and it would never trail again in the set. The Knights finished the set on a 9-2 run to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Set 2: Wilkes 27, Arcadia 25
The opening stages of the second set was defined by runs. After losing the first two points, Wilkes went on a 5-0 run, followed by an Arcadia 7-0 run. The Colonels then answered with a 6-1 run to take an 11-10 lead. The teams would go back and forth trading the lead through the rest of the set. Wilkes won the final three points of the frame to tie the match at one.
Set 3: Arcadia 25, Wilkes 15
Wilkes started early in the set, winning five of the opening six points. Arcadia battled back to take a 14-12 lead. Wilkes took the next point to cut its deficit to one, but the Knights closed the set on an 11-2 run to regain a one set advantage in the match.
Set 4: Arcadia 25, Wilkes 21
The teams traded points in the beginning stages of the set. Wilkes opened up a four-point lead, 14-10, but Arcadia won five consecutive points to take a 15-14 lead. Arcadia used a late 6-1 run to take a four-point lead, and then traded the final four points of the set to win the match.
KNIGHT LEADERS
Kills: Owen Heft (14), Dylan Zimmerman/Collin Nissley (9)
Assists: Anthony Devantier (31), Vaughn McConnell (14)
Digs: Zimmerman (9), Noel Abraham (9)
Blocks: Amadeus Cannon (6), Nissley (3)
Aces: Devantier (4), Zimmerman (3)
JUNIATA 3, ARCADIA 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Juniata 25, Arcadia 20
Juniata jumped out to an early 10-5 lead. The Knights battled back to get within one point on multiple occasions, including trailing 20-19. Juniata won five of the final six points in the frame to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Set 2: Juniata 25, Arcadia 16
After dropping the opening three points of the set, Arcadia bounced back to rattle off six in a row. The Eagles responded with a 6-0 run of their own to take a 10-7 lead. The teams went back and forth winning points until Juniata won four straight, taking a 20-13 lead. The Eagles closed out the set, taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set 3: Arcadia 26, Juniata 24
Neither team could build up more than a two-point lead through the majority of the set. With the score tied at 22, Arcadia won four of the final six points to force a fourth set in the match.
Set 4: Juniata 25, Arcadia 18
The set was tied at seven until Juniata took six straight points to take a 13-7 lead. Arcadia got within three, but the Eagles went on a 5-0 run, giving them a 21-13 lead. The teams would go back and forth, giving Juniata the set and the match.
KNIGHT LEADERS
Kills: Collin Nissley (14), Owen Heft (13)
Assists: Vaughn McConnell (36)
Digs: Vincent Colucci (7), Nissley/Danny Gonzalez (6)
Blocks: Ryan Miller (4), McConnell (3)
Aces: Nissley (2)
UP NEXT
The Knights welcome King's to Alumni Gymnasium on Wednesday, March 2 for MAC match. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
