(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – The Wilson men's volleyball team dropped its final home match of the regular season as it took on Cairn in the late afternoon Thursday. The Phoenix got stronger as the match went on, but the Highlanders prevented a fourth set from happening by holding off the Blue and White in the third.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 0, Cairn 3 (25-10, 25-14, 26-24)
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 8-13, 3-2 CSAC; Cairn 12-8, 5-1 CSAC
How It Happened
- The Highlanders started hot right off the bat by jumping out to a 5-1 lead. That lead extended to 17-5 by the time the Phoenix scored consecutive points on a ball handling error and a kill from Xavier Webber (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) to make the score 17-7. Wilson couldn't get any closer the rest of the way as Cairn took a 1-0 lead.
- The second set favored the Phoenix more as they evenly split the opening eight points. Eventually Cairn pulled ahead after a 6-0 rally put the visitors up 14-7. Wilson answered with a 4-1 run with another Webber kill to cut the deficit to 17-12, but the Highlanders responded with the next five points en route to the 2-0 lead.
- The third set was by far the most competitive as Wilson fought to try and force a fourth set. The longest rally of the set was a 4-0 run by the Blue and White with kills from Saria Alshaikhali (Jr., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Hayfield), Webber, and Wyatt Tribett (Fy., Myersville, Md. / Middletown) that helped make the score 15-14 in favor of the Phoenix. A block by Webber and Demetrius Simmons (Fy., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) followed by an Alshaikhali kill gave Wilson a 21-19 lead which forced a Highlander timeout. The visitors adjusted well and came back to tie it at 21. They eventually took the lead, and despite a service error and a Webber kill to tie the set, the Highlanders scored the final two points to take the sweep.
Inside The Numbers
- Webber finished with a match-high 13 kills. It's the fourth time in the last five matches he's reached double figures in kills.
- Jonathan Minnick (So., Dublin, Va. / New River CC) set up the attack with 23 assists.
- Defensively Webber led the team as well on the receiving end with six digs. Noah Wickenheiser (Sr., Cresco, Pa. / Notre Dame) picked up five.
Up Next
After Tuesday's postponement, the match between Wilson and St. Elizabeth has been rescheduled for Saturday. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
