In a tri-match weekend in Thompson Gymnasium, the Blue Jay men’s volleyball squad saw one win and one loss on the court.
In match one versus the St. John Fisher University Cardinals, Elizabethtown College put up a close match, losing set one 25-22. This set saw back and forth action, with Etown even scoring four in a row in the middle with two attack errors and two kills.
The Cardinals put up the first two points in set two, shortly after putting up another four in a row, bringing their lead up 5-3. The Blue Jays led 16-8 at the halfway point through the set. With a final attack error from Guillermo Perez of St. John Fisher, Etown won the set.
Set three came easily to Etown, seeing them win 25-14. With numerous streaks of multiple points scored back-to-back, the Etown squad did not allow St. John Fisher to attempt a comeback. Senior Logan Smith and junior Mason Boyer made the final two kills of the set, with a service error by St. John Fisher combined for three points in a row to seal the Blue Jay win.
Etown had good momentum in the first half of the fourth set, but could not keep up with the Cardinals. Even with numerous kills by Smith, Boyer, and sophomore Braydon Ambruster, the Cardinals took away the win in set four 25-20.
There was more back and forth action in the final set. Two errors by the Cardinals allowed the Blue Jays to tie the set 5-5. Kills by sophomore pair Arun Gopinath and Josh McCoy once again tied the set 7-7. Unfortunately, four consecutive points scored by St. John Fisher made it hard for Etown to tie the set again, with the Cardinals winning 15-11, and winning the match 3-2.
In their second match of the day, Etown dominated Bethany College, sweeping all three sets. First-year Reid Maas led the match for the Blue Jays with nine kills, followed by first-year Samuel Ulrich with eight and sophomore Declan Keller with six.
The Blue Jays did not allow many back-to-back scores from Bethany, easily winning the first set 25-16. The second set was also dominant, with a final score of 25-18. Maas, Ulrich and senior Cole Burkhardt scored three kills in a row, making it hard for Bethany to come back. Shortly after, a kill by Burkhardt, a service ace, and an attack error all but sealed the set for Etown. A kill by Ulrich won the set for the squad.
Set three was closer, seeing the score go 28-26 Etown. Bethany had a strong start, scoring off of two attack errors by the Blue Jays to start the set. Back and forth action ensued until Etown scored four points off of a kill, service ace, and two attack errors. Bethany put up a strong match, not allowing Etown to score to win until the twenty-eighth point. A service error and attack error would seal Bethany’s fate, giving all three sets to Etown.
The Blue Jays are ramping up their conference competition, playing five fellow Continental Volleyball Conference teams in a row. Their next home tri-match is set for March 27 versus Wilkes University and Drew University where they will also celebrate Senior Day.
