(CHAMBERSBURG< pa.)="" –="">The Wilson men's volleyball team looked to make it two-in-a-row as it faced Valley Forge in the home finale Tuesday evening. The Phoenix were coming off of a five-set win after trailing Pratt 2-0 on Saturday and looked to do the same against the Patriots Tuesday, but this time it was the visitors that took the deciding fifth for the triumph.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 2, Valley Forge 3 (25-19, 26-24, 20-25, 20-25, 15-10)
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: Wilson 7-13, 2-2 United East; Valley Forge 9-11, 1-3 United East
How It Happened
- It was evident early on that this was going to be a close battle early on as there were 10 ties and six lead changes in the opening set. The last lead change for Wilson came as Jacob McCoy (So., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) scored a kill to make the score 17-16, but the Patriots reclaimed the advantage with an 8-1 run to serve for game point. They eventually got it on an Isaiah Reece kill.
- There were even more ties and lead changes in the second with 14 and eight, respectively. A 4-1 run gave Wilson a 22-20 lead on the heels of a kill from Ryan Koontz (FY, York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) before the Patriots promptly regained the lead with the next three points. The Phoenix tied the set at 23- and 24-all before UVF used a pair of Clay Confer kills to take a 2-0 lead.
- The third set saw Wilson benefit from a 5-0 run to go up14-10 thanks to a pair of kills from Demetrius Simmons (So., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg). The Phoenix eventually went up five on a 17-12 count before the Patriots retaliated with six of the next seven to square things at 18. Wilson was undeterred and scored seven of the next nine with Koontz and McCoy tallying two kills each during the stretch.
- The Patriots looked to close the night in the fourth, but Wilson had other plans as a 4-0 rally on swings from Saria Alshaikhali (Sr., Jeddah, Sauri Arabia) and Koontz helped tie the set. Valley Forge again went up two at 18-16 before the Phoenix exploded for an 8-1 push with Wyatt Tribett (So., Myersville, Md. / Middltown) and Simmons scoring two kills each. Teams then exchanged service errors to send it to the fifth.
- Wilson appeared to be in control as a Simmons ace, an Alshaikhali kill, and a McCoy kill put the hosts up 7-5. McCoy followed with two more kills for a 9-6 lead. Valley Forge had the last laugh however as it closed on a 9-1 run to take the contest.
Inside The Numbers
- Koontz and Alshaikhali both recorded double-doubles for the Phoenix. Koontz led the team in attackhing with 16 kills and added 10 digs, while Alshaikhali picked up 18 digs.
- Camden Sterner (FY, Spring Grove / Spring Grove) also led Wilson on the back line with 18 digs.
- Simmons had one of his best nights up front as he rejected six attacks by the opponents.
- McCoy added 11 kills on the night.
- Vincent Natale (So., My. Airy, Md. / Linganore) accounted for 48 assists.
- Valley Forge was led by Tyler Younger with 18 kills. Confer totaled 15 and Nathan Whisman scored a dozen
Up Next
The Phoenix look to keep its playoff hopes alive as they travel to Cairn for a contest on Wednesday, April 3. First serve I set for 7 p.m.
