(BRIDGEWATER, Va.) – The Wilson men's volleyball team pulled off an incredible reverse sweep against Bridgewater to force a split day in a tri-match that also included Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon. After falling to the Marlins 3-0 in the first match, the Phoenix looked to split the day with a win against the hosting Eagles. Bridgewater took the first two sets, but the Blue and White were able to rise up to the challenge and came back to get the victory in nail-biting fashion.
The Basics
Scores: Match 1 – Wilson 0, Virginia Wesleyan 3 (26-24, 25-16, 25-22)
Match 2 – Wilson 3, Bridgewater 2 (19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 28-26, 15-12)
Venue: Nininger Hall
Records: Wilson 6-2, 0-0 UE
Virginia Wesleyan 11-2, 3-0 ODAC
Bridgewater 2-11, 0-2 ODAC
How It Happened (Match 1)
- Wilson had Virginia Wesleyan on the edge in the first set as a kill by Scotty Zorn put the Phoenix up 23-19. Shortly after a block by Jackson Wolfe and Jacob McCoy allowed Wilson to serve for game point, but the Marlins caught fire and reeled off five-straight points for the 1-0 lead. The momentum fed into the second where Virginia Wesleyan opened up with a 7-1 lead and maintained the lead for the duration.
- In the third, Virginia Wesleyan went up 6-2 at the start before Wilson used a kill by Zorn and a Wolfe ace to help tie the set back up. The Phoenix stayed as close as 18-16 before the Marlins scored five-straight. After teams split the next two points, Wilson made a valiant comeback attempt with five-straight of their own with Ryan Koontz helping out with a kill. The deficit was too much to overcome though as the Marlins took the match.
How It Happened (Match 2)
- Wilson held a 10-9 lead following a block by Wolfe before the Eagles took control with a 7-0 run. The Phoenix attempted a comeback with a 5-1 push that made it 24-19, but an error gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The second set played much closer with Wilson leading 20-18, 21-20, and 22-21. However, the Eagles overcame deficit and scored four of the last five to a 2-0 lead.
- The Phoenix came out firing in the third and opened up an 11-4 lead after a McCoy kills and an error. 6-1 stretch capped by a Demetrius Simmons ace then gave Wilson a 10-point lead. The Eagles got stronger later in the set, but the deficit was too much to overcome as Wilson stayed alive and forced the fourth.
- The fourth showed just how resilient the Phoenix are as the Eagles had opportunities to put Wilson away, but the Blue and White just wouldn't quit and stayed alive multiple times. Bridgewater served for match point twice, but were answered by a kill from Ryan Koontz on the first and served an error on the second. A bad set by the Eagles then left the Phoenix with a chance to go to the fifth, but BC scored a kill to stay alive. Wilson remained in control with a Wolfe kill, and forced the fifth on an ace from Simmons.
- The fifth was fairly even as the teams switched sides on the eighth point. Wilson started to pull away with a 12-8 lead after an ace from Satvik Sharma. Wolfe made it 14-10 with a kill, and Wilson was able to get the 15th on a kill from Jacob McCoy.
Inside The Numbers
- Koontz had an incredible match against the Eagles and tallied 19 kills. He was a dig away from a double-double, and totaled 23 kills on the afternoon.
- Wolfe was a double-double contender as well with 14 kills and nine digs.
- Sharma was busy all day as he racked up 62 assists with 44 coming against Bridgewater.
- Camden Sterner had one of his best matches of the season so far with 15 digs against the Eagles.
Up Next
The Phoenix are back home Tuesday to take on Widener. First serve is for 6:30 p.m.
