HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The #3 Juniata men's volleyball team got back to their winning ways with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-18) win over visiting Roanoke, Friday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium.
Juniata took an early six-three lead in set one following a block by Will Phelan and Kevin Duffy III, a kill from Duffy, and a Maroon attack error. Juniata would continue to add to their lead, with the score at 13-8; a kill from Phelan, followed by an ace from Campbell Gerdeman and a Roanoke bad set, made it 16-8. With the score at 22-13, the Eagles took the final three points of the set on kills from Tyler Goldsborough and Phelan. A bad set by Roanoke ended set one, 25-13. Juniata hit .421 in the set, their best hitting percentage in a set for the match.
The teams were even at 5-5 before another Phelan kill and a Maroon attack error. The visitors took the next point on an Eagle service error, but the Eagles bounced back with two straight Phelan kills and a bad set by Roanoke. The Maroons hovered within four for a while, with a pair of Luke Hoffman kills extending the Eagle lead to six, 19-13. Juniata went on to take set two, 25-17, on a kill from Duffy.
Juniata appeared to be in the driver's seat early in the third. With the score at 10-7, they rattled off six consecutive points to push their lead to eight. Roanoke responded with a 6-1 run that saw them get back within six, 16-13. A service error, a kill from Max Cooley and an ace from Reese Ganter, a solo block, and a kill from Cooley brought the lead back to eight, 21-13. Roanoke took the next point, Phelan tallied his eighth kill of the night, and Hoffman served up another ace to push Juniata to match point. Roanoke fought off three match points before Phelan sent them on their way with another kill, 25-18.
Duffy led the way as he totaled 11 kills while hitting .562 to go with an ace, two digs, two solo blocks, and a block assist. Phelan tallied nine kills on 18 swings, with an ace, five digs, a solo block, and a block assist. Hoffman amassed six kills on ten swings with an ace and a solo block.
First match of the weekend ✅#WingsUp #GoEagles #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/WSeDpAQTTK
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) March 4, 2023
Prior to the match, the women's volleyball team received their National Championship rings.
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) March 4, 2023
Men's volleyball returns to action tomorrow when they take on Arcadia, who is receiving votes in the AVCA national poll, tomorrow at 2:00.
