(MORRISTOWN, N.J.) – Although the postseason starts next week, the playoffs unofficially started Saturday for the Wilson men's volleyball team as it took on Saint Elizabeth. Thankfully it keep going as the Phoenix overcame an opening set loss to defeat the Eagles and qualify for the United East Championship tournament.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 3, Saint Elizabeth 1 (14-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-17)
Venue: Saint Joseph Hall
Records: Wilson 8-14, 3-3 UE; Saint Elizabeth 8-18, 3-3 UE;
How It Happened
- While the Phoenix stayed with the Eagles in the beginning of the contest, an 8-0 run quickly turned things around and favored Saint Elizabeth with an 18-8 lead. A pair of Demetrius Simmons (So., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) kills helped the Phoenix score five of the next seven points, but the Eagles stopped any momentum with a 5-1 run to take the first set.
- A 7-1 run in the middle of set two turned things around for Wilson taking it from a four point deficit to a 19-17 lead. Jacob McCoy (So., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) and Saria Alshaikhali (Sr., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Hayfield) started the push with a block and McCoy followed with a kill. Another McCoy kill tied the game at 17-all before he joined Ryan Koontz (FY., York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) for a rejection. Saint Elizabeth was able to get within one, but an error and a Simmons ace tied the match at one set each.
- Set 3 proved to be just as close with it being tied as late as 17-all. A pair of Koontz kills then allowed Wilson to go up 20-17. Again the Eagles within one, but a Wyatt Tribett (So., Myersville, Md. / Middletown) kill, a pair of Simmons aces, and a McCoy kill put Wilson on a 4-1 run to finish the set and take the match lead.
- With momentum on their side, the Blue and White opened the fourth set with the first four points. While they led the entire time, the Phoenix blasted ahead on a 6-0 run with kills from Simmons, Tribett, Alshaikhali, and Koontz as well as a Vincent Natale (So., Mt. Airy, Md. / Linganore) ace to make the score 23-13. Alshaikhali eventually secured the victory with a kill.
Inside The Numbers
- Koontz led the Phoenix attack with 12 kills. Alshaikhali and Simmons were both within a kill of double figures. Simmons was highly effective as he did so on 16 attempts to hit .438.
- Natale set up the offense with 37 assists on the day.
- Defensively Camden Sterner (FY, Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove) led the team with 13 digs.
- Simmons was impressive on the serve as he totaled five aces for a new season high.
- Saint Elizabeth was led by Kodi Peters with 11 kills. Kennedy Ibezim added 10.
Up Next
Wilson advances to the United East Championship tournament and will be the No. 3 seed after tiebreakers were determined. The Phoenix will take on second-seeded Cairn on Tuesday while the Eagles qualified and will head to top-seeded Lancaster Bible. The winners of those contests will advance to the finals on Saturday.
