Eagles Fall to #4 Stevens On the Road

HOBOKEN, N.J.- The Juniata men's volleyball team returned to the court for the first time since March 5 on Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles took on defending National Champion Stevens Institute of Technology in a non-conference match and the Ducks won by the score of 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-20) at Canavan Arena.

Kyle Seeley (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) had a team-high nine kills. Chad Albert (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) hit .600 for the match with four kills on five attempts and one error. He also chipped in two block assists. Brendan Smith (Fuquay-Varina, N.C./Fuquay Varina) tallied eight digs. Quinn Looper (Houston Texas./Episcopal) contributed 11 assists, six digs, and two assisted blocks.

The Ducks scored the first two points of the first set and led 5-1 early on. Juniata was within striking distance at 15-11 but the Ducks put up four straight points to go up 19-11. JC got to within six points at 21-15 but Stevens scored the last four points of the frame to claim the set and lead 1-0.

In the second set, Juniata took a 4-1 lead before the Ducks rallied. The Eagles' lead stood at 8-6 but Stevens scored four times to go up 10-8. The frame was still close at 15-13 but a 4-0 run by the Ducks staked the home team to a 19-13 advantage. Holding a 22-17 lead, Stevens scored three times in the end to take the set.

The third frame was back and forth early on. Juniata held on to a 14-13 lead but Stevens' 9-3 run gave them a 22-17 advantage. JC was able to get to within three points of tying the set at 22-19 but the Ducks outscored the Eagles 3-1 to win the set and the match.

The Eagles return to Continental Volleyball Conference play this weekend with a pair of matches on the road. Juniata plays Eastern Mennonite on Friday at 7 p.m. and Marymount (Va.) at 6 p.m. on Saturday.