HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The #2 Juniata men's volleyball team continued their best start to a season in program history as they took down #6 Messiah, 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-19), Tuesday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium.
The Falcons had their most effective set hitting the ball to start the game as they hit .360 to top the Eagles, but JC kept it close as the Falcons never led by more than three. Juniata knotted things at 20 and 21, but Messiah took three of the last four points to seal set one, 22-25.
Max Cooley with a kill!! #WingsUp #TakinFlight #GoEagles pic.twitter.com/jXH0KI5qux
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) February 8, 2023
Juniata jumped ahead 6-2 early, with Kevin Duffy III and Tyler Goldsborough combining on two blocks, Goldsborough and Maxwell Barr putting down a kill apiece, along with two Falcon errors. Messiah rattled off six consecutive points a few points later to retake the lead at 8-10 and fended off the Eagle advances for a while. A block by Duffy III and Reese Ganter, followed by a Messiah attack error, made it 16-15. The teams traded points before another Barr kill, and two straight Falcon attack errors put JC up 21-18. A Max Cooley kill gave Juniata set point, and Ganter's dump gave Juniata set two, 25-21.
BLOCKED #WingsUp #TakingFlight #GoEagles pic.twitter.com/7a851d5ESA
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) February 8, 2023
Set three was tight through the first half of the set, as a JC service error tied the score at 15-15. Two errors by the Falcons bookended a Duffy III kill, a block by Cooley and Duffy III, and a Luke Hoffman ace. Juniata maintained a lead of at least three for the rest of the set, winning on a service error.
The Eagles strong play crescendoed in the final set as they had their best hitting percentage at .400 and held Messiah to .033. Juniata never trailed, but the Falcons didn't make it easy, pulling within two at 20-18, and the Eagles called timeout. Cooley got a kill, and Duffy III had a big solo block on the Falcon middle, with the momentum being momentarily delayed by a service error. Duffy went over the top for a thunderous kill, the Falcon's attack error gave JC match point, and Goldsborough ended it with a kill down the line.
Luke Hoffman with a kill!! #WingsUp #GoEagles #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/x6BSGdI2zN
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) February 8, 2023
The Eagles do it in four!! #WingsUp #TakingFlight #GoEagles pic.twitter.com/4S7Q6I0bc1
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) February 8, 2023
Duffy III amassed 11 kills on 16 swings (.688) with ten blocks. Goldsborough totaled 11 kills on 19 swings with five errors (.316), two assists, three digs, and two blocks. Ganter tallied 35 assists, two kills, three digs, and two block assists.
The Eagle's 11 straight wins to open the year is the best start in program history and the longest winning streak in the program's history.
Juniata will take play at Marymount to open Continental Volleyball Conference play Friday at 7:00.
