(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – More history was made for the Wilson men's volleyball team as it defeated Gallaudet in four sets in the regular season finale on Tuesday evening. The win secures a bye to the semifinals in the upcoming United East Championship and also marks the first time the Phoenix have finished the regular season with a winning record. On top of that, the Blue and White matched the previous program record of five consecutive victories.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 3, Gallaudet 1 (25-17, 25-10, 23-25, 25-13)
Venue: Gallaudet Field House
Records: Wilson 13-12, 7-1 UE; Gallaudet 5-16, 2-5 UE
How It Happened
- Wilson wasted little time setting the tone and jumped out to an 8-2 lead to start the night with Demetrius Simmons (Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) providing two blocks and a kill. The Bison trimmed the deficit to three at 10-7 and 12-9 before the Phoenix started to pull away with a 6-1 run. Simmons added another pair of kills during the stretch to help Wilson take an 18-10 lead. The Phoenix remained up by at least five points the rest of the set.
- The Phoenix got stronger in the second set with their most decisive game of the night. They rushed out to a 9-4 lead which forced a Bison timeout. Following the break, Wilson reeled off five additional points for a 14-4 lead. Jacob McCoy (Jr., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) led the early charge with three kills. Simmons and Satvik Sharma (FY, Hummelstown, Pa. / Hershey) blocked another Bison attempt for a 17- 5 lead, while Xavier Webber (Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) downed a pair of kills later in the frame for a 2-0 set lead.
- The hosts didn't go down easily and were able to bounce back in the third. Ryan Koontz (So., York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) scored a pair of kills during a 4-0 run to take a 10-7 lead, but Gallaudet didn't let Wilson pull away this time. Staying within two or three points, the Bison eventually caught up and tied the game at 21-all. Jackson Wolfe (FY, Abbottstown, Pa. / New Oxford) scored the next point with a kill, however the Bison closed with a 4-1 run to stay alive.
- Fortunately for the Phoenix, they were able to quickly regain composure and broke out with a 8-2 lead in the fourth. Gallaudet responded with three-straight points before Wilson blew the game wide open. Wolfe and McCoy started a small run with a block that was followed by two kills from Webber. After the next two were scored by the Bison, the Phoenix took control with the next six for an 18-7 lead. Gallaudet was never able to recover.
Inside The Numbers
- Webber had his best match of the year with a season-best 12 kills. He added 10 digs for his third double-double of the season.
- Simmons was superb on the striking side with 11 kills. He took only 21 attempts for a success rate of .429. Defensively he was solid as well with four blocks and three digs.
- Speaking of blocks, McCoy rejected six Bison attempts. Offensively he was a kill shy of double-figures.
- Other defensive leaders include Wolfe and Camden Sterner (So., Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove). Wolfe picked up 17 digs. Sterner was one behind him.
- Sharma did well as the court general setting up the offense with 41 assists. He added three blocks and seven digs.
- The Bison were led by Zachary Bippus with 12 kills.
- As a team the Phoenix were highly accurate in the sets they won. For the night they hit .254, but hit over .300 in each set they won which included a mark of .360 in the second.
- Wilson's defense gave Gallaudet problems all night as they hit in -.036.
Up Next
With today's results around the league, the Phoenix have locked in the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. They will await the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 quarterfinal match which will take place this Saturday.
