(PITTSBURGH) – The Wilson men's volleyball team fell to Chatham on the road in a non-conference contest on Tuesday evening. The Phoenix started the night off well with an opening set win, but were unable to take advantage as the Cougars bounced back with the next three sets to take the win.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 1, Chatham 3 (21-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-17)
Venue: Chatham Athletic and Fitness Center
Records: Wilson 2-5, Chatham 4—9
How It Happened
- The opening set was a good descriptor of how competitive the night would be as it featured 11 ties and four lead changes. Both teams were even as late as 16-all before Jacob McCoy (So., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) and Andrew Sviben (So., Bressler, Pa. / Central Dauphin East / Lourdes) put the Phoenix in front for good. After a Cougars kill, Sviben answered back with another kill. Teams exchanged kills again before Sviben added another kill followed by a bad set from the Cougars to put the Phoenix up three. Errors later helped the Phoenix as they went up by a set.
- The Cougars started to take control midway through the second. Midway through the frame Chatham went on a 5-1 run to take a 14-8 lead. The Phoenix were able to cut the deficit to five at 18-13 after an Xavier Webber (So., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) kill, but the Cougars retained control as they tied the match at 1-all.
- Wilson got off to a fast start in the third as kills from both Sviben and McCoy followed by a Saria Alshaikhali (Sr., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Hayfield) kill put Wilson up 4-1. The Cougars started to bounce back, however, eventually tying the set at 13-all. Another Aslhaikhali kill put teams equal at 19-all before the Cougars closed out the set with six-of eight points.
- In the fourth set, were even through the first 20 points. The Cougars proceeded to take the lead, and used a 5-0 run to take control of the set and a 21-14 lead.- Although Wilson scored the next two points, Chatham took the match with four of the next five oints.
Inside The Numbers
- Sviben and Xavier Webber (So., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) both had solid nights offensively with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
- Vincent Natale (So., Mt. Airy, Md. / Linganore) set up the offense with 22 assists while Sviben added 11 when the rotation had him in the back row.
- Defensively Wilson was paced by Camden Sterner (FY, Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove) with 17 digs.
Up Next
Wilson has a bit of a break and won't be back in action until Friday, September 23, when it takes on Hood on the road.
