Second-ranked Juniata MVB knocks off no. 4 UC-Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Senior middle hitter Dan Powers (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) and sophomore outside hitter Dan Follett (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) each turned in error-free performances and hit .833 for the match, leading the second-ranked Juniata College men's volleyball team to a 3-0 win over fourth-ranked UC-Santa Cruz, Wednesday night in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Set scores were 30-27, 31-29, and 30-23.

Powers recorded 15 kills on 18 swings with no errors, while Follett had 10 kills on 12 swings – again without errors. Junior middle Evan Halteman (Perkiomenville, Pa./Christopher Dock) hit .350 for the match with nine kills and two errors on 20 swings 

Juniata hit .390 for the match, while UC-Santa Cruz struggled offensively and finished with a .118 attack percentage. 

"We were pretty balanced tonight," said Juniata head coach Jeremy Price. "I think this was a big win in terms of Division III volleyball. Anytime you can go cross country and play in a tough environment like this, it's a big win – especially if you do it as efficiently as we did." 

Chris Vrooman (Baden, Pa./Ambridge Area) was the only other Eagle hitter to finish with a double-digit kill total, with 10 kills and six errors on 21 swings for a .190 hitting percentage. 

Matt Werle (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) set 48 assists for Juniata over the three-set match, while Anthony Damiano (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) logged eight digs. Powers led the Eagles in blocks with six blocks assists on the night. 

"Matt Werle was superb tonight and ran the middle beautifully," said Price, "and he was able to do that because our passing was some of the best it has been all year." 

Juniata improved to 10-5 with the victory over UC-Santa Cruz, matching its win total from last season. The Eagles have a 10-day break until they return to the court, hosting Lewis University on March 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.