Eagles Takedown Mavericks to Improve to 5-0

Kevin Duffy
Kevin Duffy

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-The Juniata men's volleyball team improved to 5-0 with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-15) win over Medaille, Saturday afternoon in Kidera Gymnasium to close their weekend trip. 

The opening set saw the Eagles take a small lead early, with the Mavericks getting back within two at 12-10 with a service error and an ace. Two errors by Medaille, a kill from Will Hafen (Las Vegas, Nev. / Bishop Gorman) and a block by Stephen Ash (Elk Grove, Calif. / Cosumnes Oaks) and Sean Cavanagh (Cranberry Twp., Pa. / Seneca Valley) made it 16-10 Eagles. The Mavericks hung around, getting within five at 19-14 via another service error, but that was their last point. Two kills from Kevin Duffy (Carlisle, Pa. / Carlisle HS) bookended kills by Joe Fick (Venetia, Pa. / Peters Township) to give JC set point and a kill from Hafen ended it, 25-14. 

The second set saw the Eagles build an early 8-3 lead before Medaille edged their way back in to tie things at 13-13. The Juniata lead continued to fluctuate between two to four points. Another Hafen kill paired with a Maverick error made it 23-19. Medaille took the next two points to again pull within two, but they committed two straight attack errors to close the second set, 25-21. 

Juniata came out looking to get the sweep as they tallied five of the first six points. After Medaille took the first, an attack error, a block by Ash, and a kill from Cavanagh sandwiched by two Hafen aces made it 5-1. The teams traded points as the Eagle lead got to five at 9-4 before they pulled away. A Medaille service error, two kills from Hafen, an attack error and a kill followed up with an ace by Fick made it 16-4 Juniata. The Mavericks managed to get within eight eventually at 23-15 before a kill by Fick gave the Blue and Gold match point and his ace ended the match, 25-15.

Juniata returns to action at home against #10 ranked Kean, Friday at 7:00.