(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Jackson Wolfe (FY, Abbottstown, Pa. / New Oxford) set a program record for kills in a 3-set match to highlight a Super Sunday where Wilson went unbeaten in contests against Hilbert and Hood. His standout stats came in the day's opener as the Phoenix swept the Hawks before the Wilson equaled the fete with a blanking of the local rival Blazers.
Wolfe was nearly unstoppable as he totaled 21 kills to start the day against the Hawks. He did so on 32 attempts with no errors for a hitting percentage of .656.
The Basics
Scores: Match 1: Wilson 3, Hilbert 0 (25-14, 25-19, 35-33)
Match 2: Wilson 3, Hood 0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-20)
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 3-6, Hilbert 4-3, Hood 3-8
How It Happened (Match 1 vs. Hilbert)
- Wilson started to pull away in the opening game with a 4-0 stretch midway through the frame. Wolfe bookended it with a pair of kills and kept getting stronger from there. Shortly after he added an ace and another kill while Xavier Webber (Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) got into the mix with a pair of kills as well to help make it 20-11. Additional kills by Webber and Ryan Koontz (So., York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) along with a Jacob McCoy (Jr., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) and Koontz block helped seal the set.
- Hilbert got off to a fast 5-1 start to open the second before the Phoenix roared back in a big way. Following the exchanging on the next two points, Wilson went on a 7-0 run with Wolfe serving for six of the points to take control. Two of them were scored on attacks by Wolfe, while Webber and McCoy also added kills. McCoy showed off on defense as well by pairing with Satvik Sharma (FY, Hummelstown, Pa. / Hershey) for a block too. The Hawks eventually tied the game at 19, but it was all Wilson from there as six consecutive points which included two aces from Webber put the hosts up 2-0.
- The third set was a marathon never seen before in program history as the score went to the mid-30s for both squads. Hilbert had hoped to force a fourth and started out strong with a 14-9 lead. Wilson was able to regain control with the next 10 points as Wolfe put down a trio of kills. He also joined up with Demetrius Simmons (Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) for a block. The Phoenix weren't out of the woods just yet as the Hawks came back and kept it close by pulling even at 24-all. They even served for the potential match point, but couldn't get over the hump. It took a few tries, nine to be exact, before Wolfe ended the match with his program-record 21st kill.
How It Happened (Match 2 vs. Hood)
- In the three prior meetings with the Blazers, every set had been competitive and Sunday was no different. A 6-1 run helped Wilson take a 14-8 lead with Koontz, Wolfe, and Simmons all contributing on the attacking side. Back-to-back blocks, the first by Simmons and Wolfe with the second by Webber, added to the lead to make it 19-13. Hood trimmed the deficit down to three at 21-18 before teams exchanged the rest of the points resulting in a 25-21 first set win for Wilson.
- Extra points were needed once again in the second, although it take nearly as many as the third set against Hilbert. Wilson looked to be in prime position to take a 2-0 lead with a 23-20 advantage, but the Blazers made the Phoenix work for every bit of it. Kills by Sean Seely and Jayceon White helped the visitors tie it before a Phoenix error allowed the Blazers to serve for the potential match point. Thankfully Wilson responded with a McCoy swing to tie the game. Koontz put Wilson back up with a block before an errant attack by the Blazers made it a 2-0 match in Wilson's favor.
- The Phoenix benefitted from an early 6-0 run after the Blazers scored the first three of the third. Koontz, Simmons, and Wolfe all added kills during the stretch. Hood was able to bounce back and went on a 6-1 rally to regain the lead at 19-17. Wilson wasn't about to let it get to a fourth though. A Webber McCoy rejection and two McCoy kills put the Phoenix back in front immediately after and sparked an 8-1 run to finish the day.
Inside The Numbers
- Jackson's astronomical numbers in the opening match were one for the record books. In addition to being a program record, the 21 kills are the third-most in a 3-set match in Division III this season. His efficiency of a .656 hitting percentage is also sixth in a single match with a minimum of 20 attempts.
- Of course it wasn't just him getting up and slamming it down. McCoy added 18 across the day with 11 in the nightcap against Hood. He led the team with a .485 hitting percentage on the day.
- Setting up the attack was Sharma who tallied 63 assists over the six sets. The 36 helpers against Hilbert were a season-best in three-set contests this year.
- McCoy was also a force up front on the defensive side as he made six blocks on the day with a season-best four against Hood. Sharma added four on the day with two in each match.
- Camden Sterner (So., Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove) led the team on the receiving in with arguably his best two matches of his collegiate career. He started of the day by picking up 14 digs against Hilbert to set a season-high. He followed up with 18 digs against Hood, tied for the fourth-most in a 3-set match in Division III.
Up Next
Wilson will continue its five-match home stand with Penn State Schuylkill on Tuesday evening.
