ALLIANCE, Ohio—The Mount Union men's volleyball team swept Stevenson, who was receiving votes in the national poll, 25-23, 25-12 and 25-10 Friday night at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.
 
The Purple Raiders (2-0) used double digit kills from seniors Luke Trzeciak (Cranberry, Pa. / Seneca Valley) with 12 and Andrew Cross (St. Louis, Mo. / St. Louis University High) with 10 to sweep the Mustangs.
 
Sophomores Will Heeney (Hudson / Walsh Jesuit) finished with 30 assists and seven digs and Aaron Armour (Waukesha, Wis. / Catholic Memorial) finished with six digs.
 
Heeney led the charge in blocks with two solo and two assisted while Cross and freshman Michael Bowler (Broadview Heights / Brecksville-Broadview Heights) finished with a solo block and two assisted.
 
Stevenson (1-1) was led by Ryan Thenell who had eight kills and three digs.
 
In the first set Mount Union and Stevenson had 17 ties and three lead changes with neither team leading by more than three as Mount Union had a 16-13 lead. Mount Union used a 6-3 run over the final points as they trailed 20-19 and finished off the first set victory 25-23.
 
Set two saw Stevenson get up 3-0 early but Mount Union scored the next six points. A 10-1 run blew the game open for the Raiders pushing the lead up to 17-7. Stevenson couldn't get closer than an eight point difference at 18-10 as Mount Union finished the set off on a 7-2 run.
 
The final set of the night saw Mount Union jump out to an 11-4 lead early on and Stevenson only got within five once at 12-7. The Raiders finished off the set on a 13-3 run.
 
Mount Union now gets ready to take on Messiah, who is ranked 10th in the current AVCA Top 15 poll, on Thursday at home at 7 p.m. and then hosts the Raider Rumble as it welcomes Illinois Tech, Thiel and Mount St. Joseph with games on Friday and Saturday.