(CRESSON, Pa.) – The Wilson men's volleyball team dropped its first contest of the 2023 season at Mount Aloysius on Thursday evening. The Phoenix battled close throughout, but were taken down in straight sets against the Mounties.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 0, Mount Aloysius 3 (25-18, 25-16, 25-21)
Venue: Athletic Convocation & Wellness Center
Records: Wilson 0-1, Mount Aloysius 1-0
How It Happened
- Wilson and Mount Aloysius evenly split the opening 14 points before a 6-2 run by the Mounties gave the hosts the lead for good in the opening set. Service errors allowed the Phoenix to stay within four points, but they could get no closer as Mount Aloysius took a 1-0 lead.
- The second set played out similarly to the first at the start, this time with teams even through the first 16 points. A 6-0 rally by the Mounties put them in front once again, but Wilson was able to generate some momentum on a 4-1 answer with kills from Xavier Webber (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) and Saria Alshaikhali (Jr., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Hayfield). That made the score 17-14, but Wilson could get no closer as the Mounties went up 2-0.
- The third set was the closest of the night. Although the Mounties went up 7-3 to start, four consecutive points tied the game showing that the Phoenix wouldn't quit. Jacob McCoy (Fy., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) started the rally with a kill and, after an error by the Mounties, Webber followed with an ace. Alshaikhali closed it with a kill. The teams exchanged the next eight points to tie things up at 11-all before Mount Aloysius took the lead for good on a 5-0 run. A kill from Noah Wickenheiser (Sr., Cresco, Pa. / Notre Dame) and an error by the Mounties brought Wilson back within two at 19-17 and 21-19, respectively, before Mount Aloysius closed the match with five of the last eight points.
Inside The Numbers
- Webber led the offense with nine kills on 20 attempts to hit .300 on the night. Alshaikhali added four kills for the Phoenix.
- Jonathan Minnick (So., Dublin, Va. / New River CC) was responsible for setting up the attack and did so with 13 assists on the night.
- Defensively Alshaikhali reached double figures with 10 digs. Wickenheiser was right behind him and picked up nine.
- Mount Aloysius was led by the duo of Matthew Franz and Andrew Wlodarczyk who both had 10 kills.
Up Next
The Phoenix will have some time off before their second contest as they don't play again until Saturday, February 4, at King's College in Wilkes-Barre. First serve is set for noon.
