(LANCASTER, Pa.) – The men's volleyball season came to a close as fourth-seeded Wilson fell to top-seeded Lancaster Bible in the CSAC Tournament semifinals. For the Phoenix, it wraps up the best season in the program's short history while the Chargers move on to the championship later this week.
The Basics
Score: No. 4 Wilson 0, No. 1 Lancaster Bible 3 (25-13, 25-12, 25-14))
Venue: Horst Athletic Center
Records: Wilson 8-15, Lancaster Bible 20-10
How It Happened
- The Phoenix stuck around with the Chargers in the early going of of the opening set. A kill by Wyatt Tribett (Fy., Myersville, Md. / Middletown) pulled them within one at 5-4. A service error by LBC then made the score 6-5 in favor of the hosts. The Chargers turned things around after that and went on a 7-0 run to take control of the game. A 4-0 run fueled by a pair of kills from Demetrius Simmons (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) and one by Xavier Webber (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) put Wilson within five at 16-11, but it was the closest the Phoenix could get.
- The second set belonged to the Chargers from the start as they jumped out to a 14-4 lead. A Victor Ortiz (Sr., Caguas, Puerto Rico / Ana G. Mendez) kill and a Simmons ace gave the Phoenix consecutive points for the first time in the set to make the score 16-7, but the Chargers scored six of the next seven to stay in control and prevent a comeback.
- Kills from Simmons and Saria Alshaikhali (Jr., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Hayfield) helped the Phoenix get within one at the start of the third before Lancaster Bible scored the next four. A service error and an Ortiz ace then put the Phoenix within three at 8-5, but it was the closest that the Blue and White could get. A 3-1 stretch capped by a Jacob McCoy (Fy., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) ace put Wilson down 18-11 before the Chargers closed out the night with eight of the next 11 points.
Inside The Numbers
- The Phoenix were limited in attack opportunities and were led by Simmons with four kills. Alshaikhali and Tribett both had three.
- Defensively Ortiz and Simmons led the Phoenix with five digs each. Both of them also had the lone aces for Wilson.
- Webber took on the primary setting responsibilities on the night and had 10 assists.
- The 8-15 record for the Phoenix matches the 2016-17 team for the most wins in a single season and surpasses that time for the highest winning percentage in the program's eight seasons.
For The Chargers
- Elijah Herb led the hosts with a match-high 10 kills. Tyler Martin paced the team's back line with six digs.
