The Elizabethtown College men’s volleyball team opened up its first season in style with a 3-0 sweep over Widener University in Chester, Pa. This will be recorded as the College’s first men’s volleyball match.

Senior Ethan Maurer scored the first point against the Pride with a kill on first-year Tim Zieber’s assist. Sophomore Steven Schreffler helped the men gain their first lead when the Jays went back and forth with their opponent before taking the lead at 5-4 when Schreffler scored this leading point.
Junior Nick Baxter played a huge role in the blue and grey’s success with 12 kills and seven digs, especially in the second set, when Widener forced a timeout, ultimately leading to a won set.

Zieber ended with a whopping 22 assists for the Jays, keeping the energy up and adding fuel to the fire throughout the game. Maurer ended with nine kills, a block and an ace to support his team as well.

Saturday, Jan. 26, the Blue Jays traveled to Wilkes-Barre, PA to go up against Wilkes University and Keuka College. Each match lasted five competitive sets.

Wilkes came up with the win in the first set, but struggled to keep up with the Jays in the second when they came out 4-0 right away. This set was a back and forth challenge for both teams as Baxter had a kill and Maurer an ace to tie it at 17-17.

As the set came to an end tied at 25, the Colonels made an attacking and blocking error, giving the Blue Jays a chance to tie the sets 1-1. Baxter had back-to-back kills and Zieber had an ace to put the Jays up 3-2 overall, beating Wilkes.

The men suffered their first loss against Keuka with a score of 3-2 deficit. Although it was a hard fought game, the Wolves had kills in the double digits for the opening four sets. This was definitely a challenge, but the Jays fought hard and forced a fifth set which ended in a 15-13 Keuka win. The men will go up against Alvernia University Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.