ALLIANCE, Ohio – Mount Union's men's volleyball team defeated Wabash in Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League play in five sets, 26-24, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25 and 17-15 on Saturday evening.
The Purple Raiders (6-11, 0-1 MCVL) were led offensively by senior
Michael Bowler (Broadview Heights / Brecksville-Broadview Heights) who had 19 kills and freshman
Luke Pemberton (Jackson) who had 11. Freshman
Drew Stein (Columbus / Olentangy Orange) led the way with 22 assists, while fellow freshman
Justin Peters (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) had 17. Defensively junior
Peyton Koszelak (Eden, N.Y. / Eden) led the way with 27 digs.
The Little Giants (4-4, 2-0 MCVL) were led by Shad Wilson who had 22 kills and BawiBawi Thang who had 16. Matthew Stitle led the way with 53 assists and Piotr Wolan led the way with 14 digs.
The two teams would go back-and-forth to begin set one with neither team being able to gain an edge until with the game tied at 10 apiece Wabash would rattle off four straight points to take the largest lead of the set at 14-10. Mount Union would answer, however, by going on a 5-0 run to reclaim the lead at 15-14. The remainder of the set would be a back-and-forth affair with the lead never growing larger than two either way until the Raiders were able to rattle of three straight points to take set one 26-24.
Mount Union would grab a quick 3-1 lead to open set two before the Little Giants would score eight of the next ten points to claim a 9-5 lead. They would then go on to maintain that lead over the remainder of the set as the Raiders would never be able to reclaim the lead and Wabash would go on to take the set 25-21.
The third set would once again start as a back-and-forth affair, then trailing 11-9 the Raiders would go on an 8-0 run to take a 17-11 lead. Wabash would slowly claw their way back into the set, cutting the lead to 23-20 before Mount Union would score two of the final three points to take the set 25-21.
The Raiders would jump out to an early 4-2 lead to start the fourth set before the Little Giants would slowly begin to gain momentum and grab an 8-7 lead. The teams would go back-and-forth over the next several points before an 8-3 run by Wabash would give them a 17-13 lead. The Little Giants would be able to maintain their lead for the remainder of the set as they would go on to take set four 25-21 and force a final fifth and deciding set.
Mount Union would jump out to a 6-2 lead to open the fifth and final set. The Raiders would maintain their lead over the next several points before Wabash would go on an 8-2 run to grab a 15-14 lead. Mount Union would then score the final three points of the set to take the 17-15 victory and win the match 3-2.
The Raiders are back in action tomorrow when they host conference foe Spalding at 1 p.m. in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex in Alliance.
