(LANCASTER, Pa.) – Wilson may have lost to Lancaster Bible in the conference opener, but it did something no other team has done since 2019: win a set against the Chargers in league play. The Phoenix were narrowly edged in the opening set by three. After LBC controlled the second, the Blue and White rebounded well to force a fourth with a nail-biting third set win.
It was Lancaster Bible's first set loss in conference play since April 14, 2019 when the Chargers fell in five sets to Wells in the United East conference championship when it was known as the NEAC.
Since then, LBC had reeled off wins in 95 consecutive set wins in conference play including postseason matches.
An individual record was also broken for the Phoenix as
Demetrius Simmons (Sr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) became the all-time program leader for aces after laying down two on the night.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 1, Lancaster Bible 3 (25-22, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19)
Venue: Horst Athletic Center
Records: Wilson 8-7, 0-1 UE; Lancaster Bible 9-9, 2-0 UE
How It Happened
- Wilson showed it came to play by opening up a 9-5 lead in the opening frame on the strength of kills from Jackson Wolfe (So., Abbottstown, Pa. / New Oxford) and Jacob McCoy (Sr., York, Pa. / Spring Grove), a block by Wolfe, and one of Simmons' aces. The Chargers quickly responded with a 6-0 run to gain the lead and maintained the Phoenix at arm's length the rest of the way. A Scotty Zorn (FY, York, Pa. / Dallastown) kill and a bad set left Wilson within one at 23-22 before LBC closed out the game with the next two points.
- LBC used the middle game to pull away as a 5-0 run stretched into an 11-2 push which resulted in a 19-9 difference for the hosts. Wilson did have a 5-1 run, but it was too late as LBC scored four of the next five to go up 2-0.
- The third set faired much better for the Phoenix with Wolfe pounding down four kills at the start en route to a 7-3 lead. Wolfe continued to be in fire as he hammered down five more kills the rest of the way, including the game winner.
- Wilson and LBC were even through the first 14 points before the Chargers used another patented mid-game push to create some separation with a 6-1 run. After kills from Zorn and McCoy made it 15-12 in favor of LBC, the Chargers scored the next four. A pair of LBC errors made it 19-14, but the teams alternated points the rest of the way to give the Chargers the win.
Inside The Numbers
- Wolfe led the team with 16 kills while hitting .245 on the evening. He recorded the double-double with 10 digs on the receiving end. He provided further problems for the Chargers with four blocks.
- Ryan Koontz (Jr., York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) joined him in double-figures with 10 kills. He was also strong on the defensive side with seven digs and a block.
- Setting up both of them the most was Satvik Sharma (So., Hummelstown, Pa. / Hershey) who tallied 32 assists.
- Simmons joined Wolfe up front defensively and also had four blocks.
- Camden Sterner (Jr., Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove) helped out on the back row with nine digs.
Up Next
The Phoenix return to the friendly confines of Gannett Memorial Field House to take on Neumann on Saturday at 1 p.m.
