GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University men's volleyball team outlasted Wilson College on Thursday night at home, earning a five-set victory over the Phoenix. The Knights (2-5, 0-0) prevailed by scores of 25-11, 19-25, 25-15, 24-26, and 15-9.
Arcadia was led by Tucker Curtis with 18 kills, Riley Kodidek with four service aces and 44 assists, and Reece Dodd with three total blocks. Cameron Birch and Josh Clendening each recorded 14 digs in the win.
Arcadia opened the match with a dominant first set before Wilson responded to even the match at one set apiece. The Knights regained control with a strong third set performance but were forced into a deciding fifth after a narrow 26-24 loss in the fourth. Arcadia settled in during the final set, pulling away early to secure the victory and improve to 2-5 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE: Arcadia 25 – Wilson 11
• The Knights started quickly, jumping out to an 11-2 lead as Tucker Curtis, Josh Clendening, Luka Erickson, Jayden Waycaster, and Reece Dodd each recorded early kills.
• Back-to-back service aces from Clendening, paired with kills from Clendening, Curtis, Erickson, and an ace from Curtis, pushed the lead to 21-7.
• Wilson attempted to respond with a 3-0 run, but Arcadia closed out the set by winning the final three points, capped by a service ace from Clendening.
SET TWO: Wilson 25 – Arcadia 19
• Wilson opened the second set with a 5-2 lead and extended the advantage to 9-4 despite kills from Curtis and Waycaster.
• Midway through the set, both teams traded points as Arcadia trimmed the deficit to 14-11.
• After back-to-back 3-0 runs by each team, Wilson took an 18-15 lead late. Kills from Riley Kodidek and Clendening kept the Knights close, but the Phoenix closed out the set to even the match.
SET THREE: Arcadia 25 – Wilson 15
• Arcadia opened the third set on a 3-0 run behind kills from Erickson and Clendening.
• A kill from Dodd, followed by a kill from Curtis and a block by Dodd and Curtis, extended the Knights' lead to 9-6.
• Curtis added another kill, and Arcadia capitalized on Wilson errors to build a 17-14 advantage.
• After an Arcadia error, the Knights closed the set on an 8-0 run sparked by four service aces from Riley Kodidek.
SET FOUR: Wilson 26 – Arcadia 24
• Looking to close out the match in four, the Knights fell behind early but scored four of the next five points to take their first lead of the set.
• Following miscues from Wilson and a kill from Curtis, the score was tied at 7-7. Wilson then used a 4-0 run to take a 12-8 lead.
• Curtis and Clendening halted the momentum with key kills as both teams traded runs.
• Trailing 17-14, Arcadia responded with a 5-1 run to regain the lead at 19-18. Kills from Kodidek, Curtis, Clendening, and Aidan Mackowiak gave the Knights match point at 24-23, but Wilson finished the set on a 3-0 run to force a fifth set.
SET FIVE: Arcadia 15 – Wilson 9
• Curtis opened the fifth set with a kill, and blocks from Erickson and Clendening helped Arcadia jump out to a 3-1 lead.
• A kill from Clendening and two from Dodd extended the advantage to 6-5.
• Curtis sparked a 4-0 run for the Knights, and kills from Erickson, Clendening, Curtis, and Aidan Mackowiak closed out the set and secured the 15-9 victory.
KNIGHT LEADERS
Kills: Curtis (18), Clendening (15), Dodd (7)
Aces: Kodidek (4), Clendening (3), Waycaster (1)
Blocks: Erickson (2), Dodd (1), Clendening (1)
Assists: Kodidek (44), Cameron Birch (2), Erickson (2)
Digs: Birch (14), Clendening (14), Kodidek (7)
UP NEXT
The Knights return to action on Sunday as they travel to Drew University for a tri-match with Drew and New Jersey City University. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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