GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University men's volleyball team opened its three-match weekend with two victories on Saturday afternoon inside Alumni Gymnasium. The Knights swept Baruch and topped Eastern Mennonite in four sets.
 
The Knights improved their record to 6-5.
 
In the win against Baruch, Owen Heft and Danny Gonzalez led the Knights with eight kills each. Ryan Miller chipped in with seven kills in the win. Vaughn McConnell dished out 26 assists.
 
In the victory over Eastern Mennonite, four Knights tallied a multi-kill match. Gonzalez led the way with 15 kills, and Heft chipped in with 14. Dylan Zimmerman tallied 12 kills and Miller had 10. McConnell recorded a new career high in assists with 50.
 
ARCADIA 3, EASTERN MENNONITE 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Set 1: Arcadia 25, Baruch 13:
Baruch held an early 6-5 lead, but the Knights used a 3-0 run to take an 8-6 advantage. The Knights never trailed in the set again as they outscored the Bearcats, 17-7 the rest of the way to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Set 2: Arcadia 29, Baruch 27:
A back and forth set came down to the final points of the frame. The Knights fought off two set points and took the final two points of the set to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Set 3: Arcadia 26, Baruch 24:
The Knights got out to a 16-11 lead, but Baruch battled back to tie the set at 18. After the Knights built up a 22-19 lead, the Bearcats took four consecutive points, giving them a 23-22 lead. Arcadia closed on a 4-1 run to win the set and the match.
 
KNIGHT LEADERS
Kills: Heft/Gonzalez (8), Miller (7)
Assists: McConnell (26), Riley Kodidek (9)
Digs: Gonzalez (7), Heft (5), Cameron Birch (3)
Blocks: Kevin Abraham (4), Amadeus Cannon/Gonzalez (3)
Aces: Heft (2), Zimmerman/Abraham (1)
 
ARCADIA 3, EASTERN MENNONITE 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Set 1: Arcadia 25, Eastern Mennonite 21:
After dropping the first point of the match, the Knights won the next two and never trailed again in the set. The Royals would get within three points after fighting off two set points, but Arcadia took the final point of the set to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Set 2: Eastern Mennonite 25, Arcadia 23:
Eastern Mennonite used a 4-0 run to take an 11-8 lead, but Arcadia took the next three points to tie the frame at 11. The Knights held an 18-16 lead, but Eastern Mennonite closed the set on a 9-5 run to win the set and tie the match at one.
 
Set 3: Arcadia 26, Eastern Mennonite 24:
The Knights took the first six points of the set. Both teams used multi-point runs in the middle stages of the set and would go on to trade points en route to the final points of the set. With Baruch having set point at 24-23, the Knights took three consecutive points to come back and win the set.
 
Set 4: Arcadia 25, Eastern Mennonite 21:
The teams played to a 14-14 tie at the middle stage of the set. The Knights outscored Baruch, 11-7 to seal the set and the match.
 
KNIGHT LEADERS
Kills: Gonzalez (15), Heft (14), Zimmerman (12)
Assists: McConnell (50)
Digs: Heft/Gonzalez (8), Vincent Colucci (6)
Blocks: Abraham (6), Miller (5), McConnell (3)
Aces: Gonzalez/McConnell (2), Heft (1)
 
UP NEXT
The Knights close out their three-match weekend tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 12 as they host New Jersey City University inside Alumni Gymnasium. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.