MAHWAH, NJ-The Juniata men's volleyball team returned to their winning ways with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-19) win at Ramapo, Friday afternoon at the Bradley Center.
The opening set saw the Roadrunners take a narrow lead until they committed an attack error and Joe Fick's (Venetia, Pa. / Peters Township) second kill of the match made it 8-6. The Eagles maintained a narrow advantage the rest of the way, with Ramapo nipping at their heels throughout. The Roadrunners again pulled within two, 23-21, and JC called timeout. David Hibner (Burke, Va. / Lake Braddock Secondary) put down a kill to give the Eagles set point and Ramapo took the next point before another Fick kill ended set one, 25-22.
The second set again saw Juniata nursing a small lead as Ramapo stayed close. An Eagle attack error allowed them to get within one late, 20-19. JC quickly responded as a service error, a service ace by Matt Schaeffer (Mount Wolf, Pa. / Northeastern)and another Fick kill made it 23-19. The teams traded points, with a kill from Leland Hacecky (Ashburn, Va. / Stone Bridge) pushing Juniata to set point. Three points later, following an Eagle timeout, Sean Cavanagh (Cranberry Twp., Pa. / Seneca Valley) won set two for the Eagles with a kill.
The third set saw Juniata create a little separation late. With the score at 18-16 a kill and a solo block by Cavanagh along with a Ramapo attack error made it 21-16. The Roadrunners closed within three before a service error and kills from Fick and Stephen Ash (Elk Grove, Calif. / Cosumnes Oaks) to push JC to match point. The Eagles wound up taking the set and the match, 25-19.
With the end of conference play this match was actually was a preview of next week's CVC Quarterfinal matchup. These two teams will meet again, next Thursday at 8:00 PM.