Men’s Volleyball Splits Pair in Pennsylvania

CHESTER, Pa. – After picking up a win on Friday, the EMU men’s volleyball team looked to pick up two more on Saturday with a doubleheader.

They jumped ahead of Baruch, 2-0, but the Bearcats were able to rally for a 3-2 (25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 21-25, 13-15) win. The Royals responded by sweeping Widener 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-23) to wrap up the day.

EMU vs Baruch

Records: EMU 2-3, 0-0 CVC | Baruch 2-0, 0-0 CUNYAC

Highlights

Set One

The first set was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to gain any momentum throughout. The Royals used a 3-0 run, with a blocks from Tyler Oaks and AJ Bagby along with a David Ward kill, to tie things at 10. They eventually took a one-point lead but Baruch rallied back to pull ahead 21-20. EMU scored four straight with a kill from Walter Spurlock, a block from Oaks and Ben Childers, an Oaks kill and a Ward ace, to go up 24-21. The Bearcats scored two but the Royals closed out the set with a Spurlock kill.

Set Two

The second set was another tight one, with the teams trading the lead until, with Baruch leading 15-14, EMU used points from Spurlock and Nate McGhee, to pull ahead by three. BC would cut the lead to two, twice, but a 4-0 run gave the Royals lead. They could close out the set with an ace from McGhee.

Set Three

EMU jumped out to a 7-5 lead before Baruch pulled ahead with a 5-0 run. A 3-2 EMU tilt, with kills from Ward and McGhee, pulled them within two, but the Bearcats responded with eight of the next 11 points to lead 20-13. A kill from Spurlock, an ace from Eric Martin and a kill from Oaks wasn’t enough as BC closed out the set.

Set Four

With things tied at seven in the fourth, Baruch went on a 9-0 run before an error stopped the Royals scoring drought. With BC leading 18-11, EMU went on a 10-5 run to pull within two, but Baruch closed out the set with the final two points to force a decisive fifth.

Set Five

Baruch started the final frame on a 4-0 run, forcing an early EMU timeout. Later, a kill from Ward and a Ward/Childers block, cut the Bearcats lead to two. They were able to extend their lead to 14-8 but EMU wouldn’t quit as they scored four straight from Ward and a pair of errors, to make the score 14-12. But, ultimately, Baruch would close things out to pick up the slim two-point set win and take the match, 3-2.

Statistical Leaders

Ward – 18 kills, 4 aces, 3 digs, 3 blocks

McGhee – 12 kills, 4 aces, 7 digs

Oaks – 36 assists

Postmatch Words from Coach Hoyos

The team played at a high level…