No. 3 Juniata Hosts Puerto Rico for Midweek Match

By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: JD Cavrich Photography

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – After a big weekend at home, the No. 3 Juniata College men's volleyball team remains at home to host the University of Puerto Rico Tuesday night in the Kennedy Sports+Recreation Center.  Puerto Rico is an NCAA Division II member and the Eagles (5-0) are 1-0 this season against non-Division III opponents this season.

"We're going to use this match as an opportunity to look at a couple different personnel packages," said head coach Kevin Moore.  "With the schedule that we play, rarely do we have an opportunity to play a non-conference, non-region opponent where we can take a look at different lineups.  Fortunately, we have a lot of depth in the gym and no matter who we roll out there, there's confidence in the staff and in the team, as well, that any combination of athletes we put out there can come away with a win against any opponent."

Juniata has won all five of their matches this season, giving up only two sets.  They are coming off of two big wins over ranked opponents and have been dominating at the net.  The Eagles have over 200 kills with a .300 hitting percentage.  Their 53.5 blocks nearly doubles their opponent's, averaging 3.15 per set.

Senior Paul Kuhn (York, Pa/Central York) currently leads the team with 41 kills.  He and sophomore Matthew Kinnebrew (Ashburn, Va./Stonebridge) are averaging over four kills per set, Kinnebrew hitting .521 and Kuhn .405, respectively. 

Juniata's offense has been primarily run by sophomore Matt Elias (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn).  The 6-1 setter is averaging over 9.5 assists per set and is second on the team in digs with 24.  While the pins have been performing on the attack, sophomore Chad Albert (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) has been dominating on defense in the middle. He leads the team with 22 total blocks, averaging 1.47 per set.

This is the second meeting of the Eagles and Puerto Rico, but the first in Huntingdon.  The teams have not gone toe-to-toe since 1993 when Juniata fell 3-1 in the Nittany Lion Invitational at Penn State.

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