HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The #12 Juniata men's volleyball team lost to #2 Stevens Institute of Technology, 3-1 (23-25, 9-25, 25-18, 22-25) Saturday afternoon on the final day of the FrogJump Invitational.
Juan Armando had his best day as an Eagle, as he had 24 kills (.629) with two assists, eight digs, and a block assist. Tyler Goldsborough added ten kills, an ace, and five digs, while Luke Hoffman tallied seven kills (.375), an ace, a solo block, and a block assist. Tyler Phillips totaled nine kills, three digs, and three block assists. Reese Ganter had 48 assists, an ace, two kills, and three digs.
The opening set saw the Eagles hold a narrow early lead, as Armando's kill made it 13-10. The Ducks used a 6-1 run to pull ahead, and the Eagles were on the back foot for the rest of the set. Stevens reached set point, 21-24, but the Eagles didn't go quietly as Armando went off the block, and Phillips followed with a kill to bring JC back within one. A service error ended set one, 23-25.
Errors and a ruthless Stevens offense saw Juniata lose set two 25-9, as nothing came easily for the Eagles.
JC responded with a much better set, hitting the ball as they hit .429 with 15 kills. With the score 17-16, Goldsborough and Armando pushed the lead back to three. The Ducks got a kill before Juniata cruised the rest of the way, taking six of the final seven points to take the set.
Both offenses caught fire in the fourth as the Eagles hit a match-best .462, but the Ducks answered with .654 and 18 kills. Juniata got within one late, 19-20, on a service error but couldn't get back as Stevens took the match on a cross-court kill, 22-25.
Juniata returns to action this Saturday, February 10th, as they host Geneva at 11:00 and Chatham at 4:00.
