(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Senior Night was a success for the Wilson men's volleyball team as it defeated Bryn Athyn in straight sets on Wednesday. The match between the Phoenix and the Lions was a non-conference affair, but it still had added importance as
Noah Wickenheiser (Sr., Cresco, Pa. / Notre Dame) and
Victor Ortiz (Sr., Caguas, Puerto Rico / Ana G. Mendez) were honored pregame.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 3, Bryn Athyn 0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-13)
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 8-11, Bryn Athyn 2-15
How It Happened
- The match started with plenty of back-and-forth play as it was tied as late as 7-7 with neither team able to string together more than two-straight points. Wilson had the first major run of any team with five consecutive points to go up 12-8. Demetrius Simmons (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) started the rally with a kill and Xavier Webber (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) added two more to fuel the push. Wilson looked destined to go up 1-0 after three-straight points made the score 23-16, but the Lions scored six of the next seven before a block by Jacob McCoy (Fy., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) and Webber gave the Phoenix the win.
- The second set was arguably the most exciting of the seven that the two teams played against each other in the past week. Trailing 12-8, Wilson energized the building with a Saria Alshaikhali (Jr., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Hayfield) kill, two blocks by Simmons and Jonathan Minnick (So., Dublin, Va. / New River CC), and a Simmons kill to tie the set. However, the Lions pulled ahead once again and were two points away from evening the match before Wilson scored five of six to tie things up at 24. Bryn Athyn scored the next point to go back up 25-24, but a Webber kill, an Alshaikhali kill, and a Minnick ace gave Wilson a come-from-behind victory in the set and a 2-0 lead.
- As close as the second set was, the third one was the exact opposite with the Phoenix dominating from the start. A 7-0 with two kills and three aces by Simmons put the Blue and White up 8-1 and forced the Lions to call one of their timeouts. Wilson extended its lead to 21-8, its largest advantage of the night, on an 8-2 run capped by another Webber kill. The Phoenix led by double digits the rest of the way.
Inside The Numbers
- Webber was nearly unstoppable as he set a new season-best for three-set matches with 18 kills. He did so on 40 attempts and a hitting percentage of .325.
- Simmons had an impressive night offensively as he powered down seven kills and served up five aces. He added a pair of block assists for 13 total points on the evening.
- Defensively Alshaikhali led the team on the receiving end with 11 digs. It's the seventh time he's recorded double figures in the category.
- Minnick set up the attack with 25 assists.
- Overall Bryn Athyn hit slightly better than the Phoenix (by just .001), but the Phoenix totaled 12 more kills than the Lions.
For The Lions
- Teagan Dewees led the Lions with seven kills. Lban Genzlinger recorded 10 digs.
Up Next
A battle between the two remaining unbeaten teams in the CSAC awaits the Phoenix on Saturday as they host Lancaster Bible. First serve with the Chargers is set for 1 p.m.
