Elizabethtown College’s men’s volleyball team took on the Cairn Highlanders this past week prior to the beginning of their in-conference play. The Blue Jays were due for a rematch against the Highlanders, as Etown cruised to a 3-0 victory as the starters rested for the second game in the tri-match. Cairn entered the game winless on the season, only picking up one set victory across their games this season, hoping to pick up a much needed win on the road.
The Blue Jays started the match tied with the Highlanders 3-3 early, however, Etown rallied four straight points to jump out to a lead as senior outside hitter Logan Smith and sophomore outside hitter Braydon Ambruster both were credited with kills during the stretch. Etown continued to roll through the first set, with Smith picking up an ace and junior outside hitter picking up a kill of his own. The duo of senior middle hitter Craig Patrick and sophomore setter Patrick Neyer collected two points off of blocks made by the both of them. Smith continued to pile on the points for the Blue Jays collecting two more kills as Etown stormed ahead to a 10-point lead. Etown closed out the set as Smith collected his second ace of the set, winning 25-14.
The second set started off strong for the Blue Jays as Etown established a 5-1 lead early. Sophomore outside hitter Arun Gopinath collected an ace and a kill in the five point run while senior middle hitter Cole Burkhardt collected a block and a kill. After back-to-back aces by Neyer, the Blue Jays had established a solid 15-6 lead sitting firmly in the driver’s seat. Etown didn’t take their foot off the gas as they rallied for eight straight points as Gopinath led the team with two aces and two kills. Cairn was able to collect a few points in an attempt to recover the deficit, however, Smith’s kill sealed the set as Etown collected a 25-9 victory.
Etown subbed in most of their underclassman roster for the final set to showcase the future of the Blue Jay rotation. First-year outside hitter Reid Maas proved himself early, collecting three of the first four points on kills as Etown jumped out to a 5-0 lead to begin the third set. Cairn battled back and forth with the Blue Jays, with the Etown lead within reach as they led 10-7 in the middle of the set. The Blue Jays rallied to separate the distance between the two teams, with first-year outside hitter Hugh Rogers collecting a kill and an ace while Maas added another kill of his own. Cairn attempted to rally back, however, a kill by sophomore outside hitter Declan Keller and an attacking error finished off the Highlanders. Etown won the third set 25-15 and the match with a final score of 3-0.
Smith led the Blue Jays in kills on the evening, collecting seven, combined with the two service aces accumulated during the match. Ambruster and Maas both finished the contest with six kills, with all of Maas’s kills coming in the third set. Ambruster and Neyer both had three blocks and Gopinath led the team in aces with three, all coming in the second set.
The Blue Jays move to 8-1 on the season and will take on Lancaster Bible College on Feb. 12 for their next home contest.
