(BROOKLYN, N.Y.) – Wilson set a new program record for wins in a season with its 15th in a sweep over Pratt on Saturday afternoon. The victory also had added value as it guarantees a home playoff match for the Phoenix in the upcoming United East Championship. Whether or not they will receive a bye to the semifinals will be determined in Monday's regular season finale against Immaculata.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 3, Pratt 0 (25-21, 25-11, 25-13)
Venue: Pratt Institute ARC
Records: Wilson 15-8, 6-1 UE; Pratt 5-13, 2-5 UE
How It Happened
- The Cannoneers lived up to their nickname at the start and jumped out to a 4-1 start with a pair of kills and a block. Wilson was quick to answer and eventually gained the lead at 8-7 following a kill by Ryan Koontz (Jr., York Haven, Pa. / Red Land). The lead went back and forth until the Blue and White went on a 5-0 run with a Jacob McCoy (Sr., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) kill and a McCoy Jackson Wolfe (So., Abbottstown, Pa. / New Oxford) block for a 17-14 advantage. Pratt hung around before Wilson closed the frame on kills from Wolfe and McCoy.
- The Phoenix took control and dominated Set 2 with a 10-0 run to go up 19-7. Wolfe solidified the run with three consecutive kills in the middle of the stretch. Satvik Sharma (So., Hummelstown, Pa. / Hershey) served an ace and a Koontz Demetrius Simmons (Sr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) block bookended it. Pratt only scored four points the rest of the way.
- Momentum stayed with the Phoenix in the third as they opened up a 5-0 lead with a couple of Koontz kills and a couple of Koontz Simmons blocks. McCoy and Wolfe had a solid stretch that started with a double block followed by a solo McCoy block and a Wolfe ace. McCoy capped the stretch with a kill to make it 12-3. McCoy added a couple of more blocks shortly after, one with Koontz and one with Vincent Natale (Sr., Mt. Airy, Md. / Linganore), to make it 15-4. The Phoenix remained in control and ended the contest with a Peter Marston (FY, Grand Island, N.Y. / Grand Island) ace.
Inside The Numbers
- Koontz led the offense with 11 kills while hitting .320. McCoy was right behind him with nine while hitting an astronomical .750.
- Both Koontz and McCoy led the defense up front as well. McCoy tallied five blocks while Koontz was one off from matching him.
- Camden Sterner (Jr., Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove) paced the back row with 11 digs.
- Sharma set up the team with 20 assists before being spelled by Natale who added seven.
Up Next
Wilson will host Immaculata in the regular season finale on Monday night. A win will give Wilson a bye to the semifinals as the No. 2 seed.
