(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – The Wilson men's volleyball team got back in the win column with a three-set triumph over Saint Elizabeth in United East action on Saturday afternoon.
Ryan Koontz (So., York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) and
Jacob McCoy (Jr., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) both led a Phoenix attack by hitting over .300, while
Camden Sterner (So., Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove) and
Xavier Webber (Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) shined defensively by reaching double figures in digs to help stifle the Eagles.
With the victory, the Phoenix also set a new program record for wins in a season with nine.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 3, Saint Elizabeth 0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-22)
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: Wilson 9-12, 3-1 UE; Saint Elizabeth 3-13, 1-2 UE
How It Happened
- The Phoenix got the early advantage with a 6-2 lead after aces from Satvik Sharma (FY, Hummelstown, Pa. / Hershey) and Demetrius Simmons (Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) before it was capped with a block by Webber. The Eagles stayed kept the lead around four until a 6-0 run by Wilson gave it a 15-6 lead with Koontz and Simmons both recording a pair of kills during the stretch. That lead ballooned to 19-7 before St. E's started to make a run. However, the deficit was too much as the Phoenix claimed the opening set.
- The Eagles responded with a fast 5-1 start to open the second and forced an early Wilson timeout. The break worked in favor of Wilson as it bounced back to tie the frame at 7-all thanks to a pair of kills from McCoy. It took a while for the Phoenix to get over the hump, but they eventually did after kills from McCoy and Koontz along with an Eagles error gave them a 21-19 lead. St. E's took the next point, but momentum was back on Wilson's side. Sharma followed with a kill, Koontz and Simmons blocked successfully blocked an Eagles attack, and Sharma added an ace to make it 24-20. The Eagles scored a kill on the next play before an error gave Wilson a 2-0 lead.
- Another close game took place in the third. Teams were tied as late as 19-all, but an Eagles error followed on the next point to put Wilson in the lead for good. Koontz spiked an attack while Jackson Wolfe (FY, Abbottstown, Pa. / New Oxford) served up an ace to make it 22-19. The next six points alternated to give the Phoenix the overall win.
Inside The Numbers
- Koontz led all players with 10 kills and was a dig shy of a double-double. He hit .310 while doing so.
- Webber added eight kills and added 10 digs.
- McCoy scored seven kills on 16 attempts for a success rate of .375.
- Sharma set up the offense with 23 assists. Defensively he was solid with eight digs on the receiving end.
- Sterner paced the team with 12 digs. It's the 15th match this season he's reached double-figures. He's currently on a nine-match streak of at least 10.
- Simmons totaled three blocks.
Up Next
The Phoenix head to Langhorne for a pivotal United East match with Cairn on Wednesday. Wilson will enter the contest second in the league standings at 3-1 while the Highlanders are tied for third at 2-1. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
