(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – The Wilson men's volleyball team got back in the win column as it took down visiting Neumann in United East action on Monday evening. It was the first time out of seven meetings that the two met as conference foes, and the Phoenix snapped a three-match losing skid to the Knights by defeating them in four sets.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 3, Neumann 1 (25-15, 25-16, 24-26, 25-20
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 8-11, 2-0 UE; Neumann 7-8, 1-1 UE
How It Happened
- An early 6-0 fueled by a Ryan Koontz (So., York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) kill and a pair of aces helped Wilson take an early 12-5 lead. The Knights answered with the next three points, but that was as close as they would get. The Blue and White used another pair of Koontz attacks to increase their lead steadily, and kills from Xavier Webber (Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) and Jackson Wolfe (FY, Abbottstown, Pa. / New Oxford) helped seal the first set for the Phoenix.
- Set 2 played similar to the first as the Phoenix went through a stretch where they scored nine out of 10, including six consecutive, to take a 13-6 lead early. Koontz again set the tone with a pair of early kills during the stretch. After the Knights' lone point in the run, he turned the court into Vegas and dealt four consecutive aces. A pair of kills from Webber then put the Phoenix up 20-9 en route to a 2-0 lead.
- Looking to end the night in three, the Phoenix took an 8-5 lead after a 4-0 run with a pair of kills from Koontz, one from Wolfe, and a block from Koontz and Demetrius Simmons (Jr., Mechanicsburg, P.A.). Wilson maintained that advantage until the Knights made a move to start the end game and tied the frame at 18-all after a double block. Wilson served for the potential match point, but the Knights stayed alive with a kill and a pair of Phoenix errors.
- The fourth started out back-and-forth until the Blue and White went on a 7-1 run to take a 15-10 lead. Wolfe helped spur it along with a block before back-to-back kills made it 12-9. He added another kill after a Knights point while Koontz added an ace and Simmons got into the mix with a block. Neumann stayed within striking distance, but Wilson always kept the visitors a point away. Koontz added two more kills down the stretch while Wolfe pounded one down for match point.
Inside The Numbers
- Wilson's attack was led by the three-headed monster of Koontz, Jacob McCoy (Hr., York, Pa. / Spring Grove), and Wolfe. Koontz paced the team with 13 kills to tie Neumann's Trey Edmonds for match-high honors. McCoy added 12 and Wolfe chalked up 11.
- Camden Sterner (So., Spring Grove, PA. / Spring Grove) was busy on the defensive side with 18 digs. Satvik Sharma (FY, Hummelstown, Pa. / Hershey) also hit double figures with 10.
- Speaking of Sharama, he set up the attack with 35 assists.
- McCoy was also busy on the defensive end with four blocks, three of which were solo.
- With the win, the Phoenix match a program record for most wins in a season. They have reached eight in three other seasons, the most recent of which was last year.
Up Next
Wilson remains in United East action the rest of the regular season and will host Lancaster Bible on Monday. First serve with the Chargers is set for 7 p.m.
