(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Wilson got back into the win column in a thrilling five-set match against Neumann in non-conference action on Wednesday evening. The Phoenix opened with a first set win and alternated wins with the Knights through the rest of the match.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 3, Neumann 2 (25-18, 16-25, 25-23, 16-25, 15-8)
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 2-5, Neumann 3-12
How It Happened
- Wilson came ready to play and jumped out to a 10-3 lead at the beginning of the first set. Xavier Webber (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) led the charge with three early kills during the run while Demetrius Simmons (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) and Jonathan Minnick (So., Dublin, Va. / New River CC) both served up an ace. Neumann was able to respond and eventually tied the game at 13-all, but the Phoenix immediately came back with the next five points as Simmons had a pair of kills sandwiched around one from Webber to start the rally. After the Knights scored the next point, Wilson scored the next four points with two of them on kills from Webber with Minnick adding another to make the score 22-14 as Wilson went on to win the game.
- There must have been something about the northwest end of the gym as that's where the winner of each set was stationed. This time it was the Knights' turn and they jumped out to a 12-6 lead. A Simmons kill and an error by the Knights brought Wilson within four, but Neumann scored six of the next eight points to extend its lead once again. The Phoenix strung three consecutive points together late before the Knights evened the match with the final two points of the second.
- The third set was the closest of the evening. After Wilson took an 8-7 lead on a Simmons kill, Neumann answered with the next four points with a pair of kills during the run. The Phoenix responded well by scoring the next six points with Simmons accounting for a pair of kills while Webber added another to make the score 14-11. Neumann came back to tie the set at 14-all, 15-all, and came back again from three points down for a 19-19 tie. Saria Alshaikhali (Jy., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Hayfield) then put Wilson up for good and the Phoenix went up by two after a Neumann error. Neumann stayed within two for the remainder, but Wilson was able to counter with kills from Wyatt Tribett (So., Myersville, Md. / Middletown), Minnick and Webber to help close out the set.
- Neumann had its best start come in the fourth as the visitors jumped out to a 18-6 lead. The Knights extended that lead to 22-8 before Wilson went on a strong run with seven of the next eight points, but the deficit was too much to overcome as the Knights forced a fifth set.
- In the deciding fifth, teams evenly split the first 12 points with a Knights error tying the set at 6-6. Vincent Natale (Fy., My. Airy, Md. / Linganore) then put Wilson up for good as he served a pair of aces in a 5-0 run. Wilson secured the win by scoring five of the last six. Two of those came on blocks, the first from Simmons and the second from Simmons and Minnick which scored the match point.
Inside The Numbers
- Webber led the attack with a season-high 19 kills. Simmons also put up a season-best with 12 kills. Minnick was in charge of setting up the Phoenix and also provided top numbers for the year with 45 assists.
- Defensively three Phoenix reached double figures with Tribett leading the way with 15 digs. Alshaikhali followed with 11 while Noah Wickenheiser (Sr., Cresco, Pa. / Notre Dame) picked up 10.
- Up front the Phoenix were paced by Webber and McCoy with four blocks each. Simmons added a pair while Tribett and Minnick scored a pair.
- Wilson totaled 54 kills on the evening compared to 34 by the Knights.
- It's Wilson's first five-set match since it also went the distance at Rosemont on March 19 last season. The Phoenix were also victorious in that venture.
- Wilson is 6-6 in five-set matches.
Up Next
Wilson will be off until Saturday, March 4, when it hosts Immaculata for a pair of contests. First serve of the twin bill is set for 1 p.m.
