Juniata MVB bounces back and defeats #5 NYU

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – In a key Division III match, Juniata bounces back, after a two game losing streak, to beat New York University at Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center 3-0. 

Set scores for Juniata were 25-16, 25-16, and 25-19. 

The second ranked Eagles were looking to put the last two games behind them, and rebound after losing to the sixth ranked Stevens 3-2 at home on Wednesday night. Juniata beat NYU on January 13^th in New York City 3-2, and tonight they closed out the series with two wins. In tonight's contest, the Eagles out hit, out set, and out blocked the Violets. 

Leading Juniata was freshman opposite Alex McColgin (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) with 11 kills on 22 attacks with only two errors, hitting .409 on the night. Senior Chris Vrooman (Baden, Pa./Ambridge Area) and junior Ben Wolff (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) each tallied eight kills, both hitting .500. 

The Eagles served well, recording six aces over the course of the match, with McColgin producing three. Junior setter John Almquist (York, Pa./Central York) logged 32 assists; sprawled for a team high eight digs, had a hand in three blocks and served an ace. 

Juniata held NYU to a .077 attack percentage, as the Violets committed 21 errors. Outside hitter Taylor Fauntleroy led the Violets with 12 kills, but committed nine errors.  Patrick Dodd tallied six kills and recorded one of the two total blocks for the team.

Setter Connor Mortland tallied 25 assists, and libero Jay Hayes sprawled for eight digs. 

In the first set, the Eagles came out strong, and gained momentum early. Juniata opened with a five-point run as NYU committed three attack errors. After calling a timeout at 5-0, the Violets finally went on the board on an attack error by Almquist. Juniata held the lead for the entire game, only letting NYU come within two points, before going on to win the match 25-16. 

Juniata jumped ahead early in the second set, leading the entire match. Back-to-back kills by Mike Kraft (York, Pa. / Eastern York) and freshman Ross Madden (Richmond, Va. / Deep Run) and a ball-handling error by NYU put the Eagles ahead 5-3.  Attack errors by the Violets continued to push Juniata ahead, as they went on to win 25-16.

NYU kept the third set close, and took the lead on a kill followed by an ace by Fauntleroy. It looked as if the Eagles might let it slip away, but Juniata called a time out at 12-14 and regrouped. NYU responded with two errors, and a kill by McColgin put the Eagles back on top at 15-14.  Juniata went on to win 25-19. 

Juniata ends its stretch of home matches next weekend with matches on Friday and Saturday, as #1 Springfield travels to Huntingdon Friday, in crucial match for Molten seedings.  

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