GENEVA, Pa. – The Mount Union men's volleyball team (2-0) took down the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes (1-1) in five sets with scores of 25-20, 25-21, 25-16, and 15-6 in an out of conference matchup Wednesday evening at the Metheny Fieldhouse.

The Purple Raiders were led by senior Justin Sibbel (Stow / Stow-Munroe Falls) who tallied a season-high 25 kills followed by junior Sam Matonis (Macedonia / Walsh Jesuit) and sophomore Cameron Ternent (Canal Fulton / Massillon Jackson) who combined for 23 kills. Junior Jeremy Leyden (Cuyahoga Falls / Akron Hoban) also led the way on the stats sheet logging 57 assists, two service aces, and 11 digs.

Set 1

The match started with back and forth action being consistently within one or tied. Back to back kills by Sibbel forced a Geneva timeout at 13-10. The Golden Tornadoes rallied back and caused Purple Raider timeout at 19 a piece. Geneva takes their turn with a timeout as the Raiders become one point from securing the set. A kill by Matonis secures the first set 25-20.

Set 2

Geneva came out with three unanswered points before a kill by Matonis got the Raiders on the board. Mount Union trailed by six as Geneva led 12-6 causing a Purple Raider timeout. Sibbel answered with back to back kills. The Purple Raiders trailed the entire set and came within two at 19-17. They brought the Golden Tornadoes to 24-21 but were unable to secure the comeback as the set ended 25-21.

Set 3

The Raiders started the set on a four point rally to cause an early timeout by the Golden Tornadoes. They continued their rally to 10-0 before the Golden Tornadoes found their way to the scoreboard. They eventually extended their lead to 11 at 14-3. The Purple Raiders didn't let up and finished the set 25-16.

Set 4

 Geneva came into the set securing their lead early, but soon the Purple Raiders were able to bring the Golden Tornadoes to even at 11 a piece. Mount Union came off a timeout to bring the set within one at 19-18 off errors by the Golden Tornadoes and a service ace by Sibbel. The Golden Tornadoes rallied back 23-21 to cause a Mount Union timeout. Mount Union was unable to secure the nail biting comeback and dropped the set 26-24. 

Set 5

Mount Union grabbed an early lead at 6-3. The Purple Raiders didn't look back as they forced a timeout by Geneva at 11-5 thanks to a block by sophomore Luke Trzeciak (Cranberry, Pa. / Seneca Valley) and Matonis. The Purple Raiders claimed the set and match with a score of 15-6 off of a Geneva attack error.

The Purple Raiders have a quick turn around with a trip to St. Louis, Mo. for their first Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League contest with a double-header against the Griffins of Fontbonne University on Saturday Feb. 6 at 11 AM and 2 PM EST.