Juniata Denied by Southern Virginia

BUENA VISTA, Va. – The Juniata men's volleyball team fell to Southern Virginia 3-1 (22-25, 14-25, 25-22, 24-26) Saturday afternoon at the Knight Sports Arena.

Quinn Peterson (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge) had 15 kills, five digs, one solo block and one block assist. Joe Fick (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) totaled 12 kills, 14 digs, and one block assist, and David Hibner (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock Secondary) tallied eight kills. Matt Schaeffer (Mount Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) had 27 assists and six digs.

The teams traded points early before the Eagles went on a 4-0 run, which made it 7-3. Kills from Mahlon Bender (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) alongside a service error and two attack errors from the Knights put JC ahead 12-6, forcing a Southern Virginia timeout. The Knights narrowed the gap to two at 14-12, but the Eagles were able to maintain a small lead until a Hiber kill was followed by three Southern Virginia points, putting the Knights up 21-22. A Peterson kill brought JC to 22-22, but the Knights captured the next three points to take set one.

JC fell behind 3-7 early in the second set. The Eagles were unable to regain their ground, trailing 9-19 after seven straight Southern Virginia points. The Knights continued to gallop ahead, taking set two 14-25.

Set three saw the Eagles attempt to bounce back, going up 6-3 after a Fick kill and several Southern Virginia attack errors. JC continued to lead until a Southern Virginia kill sparked the Knights ahead 11-14. A kill from Peterson tied the teams at 16-16. Matt Vasinko (Loyalhanna, Pa./Derry Area) and Fick kills contributed to a 23-20 advantage and finally, another kill from Fick gave the Eagles the third set.

In set four, neither team had more than a two-point advantage until kills from Vasinko and Fick and a JC service ace surged the Eagles ahead 15-12. JC continued to lead 22-19 after a kill from Hibner, but the Eagles were unable to hold the Knights as they went on a 5-0 run, 23-24. Hibner recorded another kill, but a JC service and attack error sealed the Southern Virginia victory.

The Eagles will return home Friday, Feb. 23, to face Neumann at 7:00pm.