ARLINGTON, Va, -The Juniata men's volleyball team pushed their winning streak to seven with a 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-16, 25-21) over Marymount (Va.), Friday evening at the Converse Fieldhouse.
The Eagles jumped out to an early 6-2 lead with kills from Quinn Peterson (Las Vegas, Nev. / Shadow Ridge) and Kevin Duffy (Carlisle, Pa. / Carlisle HS) along with a Joe Fick (Venetia, Pa./ Peters Township) service ace, forcing a Marymount timeout. Kills from Fick, Peterson, and David Hibner (Burke, Va. / Lake Braddock Secondary) alongside two Marymount errors then allowed JC to widen the gap, 14-6, and the Eagles continued to push. The Saints were unable to get within seven points of Juniata, and the Eagles took the set, 25-14.
Juniata opened the second set with three quick points, but the Saints quickly battled back with a four-point run. Both teams exchanged points until the Eagles regained a 12-8 lead on a 7-2 run after kills from Peterson and Duffy and two Peterson service aces. The Saints kept close at 16-13, but JC started to pull away, ultimately sealing the set, 25-16.
The third set began with both teams battling for an advantage. Kills from Duffy and Sean Cavanagh (Cranberry Twp., Pa. / Seneca Valley) put the Eagles up 6-3, but the Saints kept within striking distance. Two Marymount errors, followed by a Hibner service ace and kills from Peterson, Duffy, and Fick, gave JC a 17-10 lead forcing a Marymount timeout. The Saints kept battling, getting within three at 23-20, but Juniata held on with a Fick kill and two Marymount errors for a 25-21 finish.
Peterson led JC with 12 kills four service aces, seven digs and two block assists. Fick tallied eight kills, two service aces, and a block assist while Austin Goodsel (Corry, Pa. / Fort Leboeuf HS) had 24 assists.
The Eagles face off against Randolph-Macon tomorrow at 4:30pm.