Men's Volleyball Outpace Patriots

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. - The Wilson College men's volleyball team was in action today as they took on the Patriots of the University of Valley Forge in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action. The Phoenix (1-3, 0-0 CSAC) defeated the Patriots (0-3, 0-1 CSAC) by a score of three sets to two with sets scores of 26-24, 24-26, 25-13, 22-25, and 15-12.

How It Happened: In set one, both teams traded points back and forth throughout; with neither team being able to take a steady lead. Later in the set, with the score tied at 18, Wilson jumped on a three-point run that put them out in front. Valley Forge, however, responded right back with a three-point run of their own that notched things back up at 21 points apiece. After evening the set up at 23, the Phoenix closed it out on a 4-1 run, giving them the set, 26-24. In the second set, both teams continued to duke it out on the court. After trading points early on, Wilson found themselves trailing, 11-8 but managed to take the lead off a five-point run. The Patriots managed to tie the set up with 15 points each as the two teams continued to fight for the lead. Late in the set, after the Phoenix notched things up at 24 all, Valley Forge took the set after jumping on a two-point run. 

Wilson took a four-point lead in the third set after the offense set up a quick four-point run. The dominance continued in the set, as the offense shot out to a 20-4 lead. Despite a short rally, the Blue and White took the third set by a score of 25-13. After Valley Forge took the fourth set, by a score of 25-22, the Phoenix looked to bounce back in the fifth and final set of the match. With Wilson down, 3-2, a kill from freshman Ian Ruiz (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, Colegio y Noviciado Santa Maria del Camino) sparked a 5-0 run the took the Phoenix in front, 7-3. Later on, with the set tied at nine, Wilson took the lead and never looked back as they closed out the set at 15-12, giving them the victory on the match, three sets to two. 

Inside the Box Score: Wilson finished the match with 37 kills on 124 attempts against 28 errors while their opponents finished with 29 kills on 110 attempts against 22 errors. Senior Oliver Perry (London, England, Okanagan Secondary) led the team with 12 kills, he also went on to lead the team with 15 assists and four aces. Junior Andrew Hetzer (Chambersburg, PA., Cumberland Valley Christian) racked up 12 assists, eight kills, eight digs, and one block while junior Shae Cardenas (Torrance, CA., West Los Angeles CC) tallied 15 digs, five kills, and two assists. Freshman Jeremiah Carter-Johnson (Richmond, VA., Mills E. Godwin) finished with, a team-high, two blocks, and two aces. 

Up Next: The men's volleyball team will take on Cairn University (4-1, 1-0 CSAC) on Wednesday, April 7, on the road at 7:00 pm. 

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