Hoffman's Seven Aces Help Eagles Top Mustangs

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The #2 Juniata men's volleyball team remains unbeaten after they knocked aside Stevenson, 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-14), on day two of the Juniata Invitational inside Memorial Gymnasium. 

The opening set was close early, with the Mustangs trailing by two, 10-8, after an Eagle service error. Two errors and a Luke Hoffman ace made it 13-8 as the visitors called timeout. The Eagles took the following two points on a kill from Maxwell Barr and a bad set by Stevenson. The lead stayed around five for a bit, with another JC attack error and a Mustang kill placing the lead exactly at five again at 18-13. Kills from Reese Ganter and Barr pushed the lead to 20 and forced the second Stevenson timeout. Tyler Goldsborough put down a kill to push the lead to eight, and the Eagles eventually would capture set one 25-16 on a kill from Will Phelan. 

The second set again featured an early run from the Eagles to give themselves some breathing room. With the score at 9-10, Hoffman and Ganter tallied kills, the Mustangs committed an attack error, and Hoffman got another ace as Juniata catapulted ahead 13-10. Stevenson hung around for a bit, with a kill seeing them hang within two at 17-15. From there, Juniata closed set one with an 8-2 sprint with a Hoffman ace ending set two 25-17.  

A kill and three consecutive aces got the Eagles rolling to kick off the third set, and the Mustangs tried to keep the pace as they narrowed the deficit to two early at 12-10. Juniata dominated the rest of the set to close the match as the Eagles went on a 13-4 rampage to end the match, as Goldsborough went off the block for the final kill of the set and match, 25-14.  

Hoffman's seven aces are tied for the second most in program history in a single match. He was excellent all weekend as he hit .650 with 14 kills, eight aces, and five blocks, which earned him MVP of the Juniata Invitational. Joining him on the all-tournament team was fellow middle hitter Kevin Duffy III who hit .636 with 16 kills and eight blocks. Barr also made the all-tournament team after amassing 22 kills while hitting .286, five aces, 15 digs, and two blocks. 

Juniata Invitational All-Tournament Team

Juniata has a quick turnaround as they return to action Tuesday at home against #3 Messiah at 7:00.