February 4, 2011

Juniata MVB outplays NJIT, wins in three

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College men’s volleyball beat New Jersey Institute of Technology in three easy sets, in an EIVA Hay division conference match, Friday night at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College men's volleyball beat New Jersey Institute of Technology in three easy sets, in an EIVA Hay division conference match, Friday night at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.

Set scores were 25-22, 25-16, and 25-20.

Juniata improves to 9-3, 2-0 EIVA Hay.

This was the first time that the Eagles played the Highlanders since 2009. The match had similar outcome, as the Eagles swept the Highlanders in three sets. 

Juniata out-hit, NJIT finishing .487 for the match, while NJIT finished with a .257 attack rate. The Eagles committed just seven attack errors' to the Highlanders' 12. Despite committing 17 service errors, the Eagles were only slightly edged by the Highlanders .833 serving percentage posting a .767 service percentage. 

Senior outside hitter Chris Vrooman (Baden, Pa./Ambridge Area), and junior middle Ben Wolff (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) tied for game high 13 kills. Wolff's kills came on 15 swings and finished with a .867 attack percentage, while Vrooman had 23 attempts and one attack error. Vrooman also led the team with seven digs.

Freshman standout Alex McColgin finished with eight kills on 16 swings committing only two errors. Setter John Almquist (York, Pa./Central York) tallied 42 assists on the night including three service aces and five digs. Senior Libero Dan Follet (Cranberry, Pa. / Seneca Valley) also chipped in with five digs. Freshman, Ross Madden (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) recorded six kills, hitting .500 on the night. 

NJIT's Rafal Kierznowski put down five kills on 9 swings, for a team high .556 hitting percentage. Outside hitter Dhruv Lad recorded seven kills on his 16 attacks, while Andrei Stoyanow and Kevin Van Oss finished with six kills each.

All three sets started out tight, before the Eagles began to pull away. In game one, the Eagles were down until a kill by Chris Vrooman tied the match at 19. The score continued to go back and forth until back-to-back Vrooman and Wolff kills followed by an attack error NJIT's Lad clinched the first game 25-22. 

The second match remained tight until Juniata went on a five point run with three kills by Wolff and two service aces by Vrooman to pull ahead 19-12. The Eagles continued to put pressure on the Highlanders as they commited three errors in the last five points causing Juniata to take the win 25-16.

 Juniata tested a new roster in the third set as Sophomore John Proudt, and Freshman Will powers both made appearances in the starting line-up. The Highlanders stuck with the Eagles for much of the game, but a decisive kill by Vrooman to put the Eagles up 16-14, diminished any hope of a comeback. The Eagles continued to tack on points and finish the match at 25-20. 

Juniata returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 5, when it hosts George Mason at 7:00 p.m. at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.

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