Box Score ERIE, Pa. – The Mount Union men's volleyball team (18-2, 12-2 MCVL) took down Penn State-Behrend (3-6, 2-3 AMCC) in a non-conference matchup at Junker Center on Tuesday evening with a match score of 3-1. Previously in the season, the Raiders took down Behrend 3-1 at Timken Gymnasium, and extend their winning streak to 16 straight.
The Purple Raiders had three in double digits as senior Justin Sibbel (Stow / Stow-Munroe Falls) and Sam Matonis (Macedonia / Walsh Jesuit) each led the way with 13 kills apiece followed by Cameron Ternent (Canal Fulton / Massillon Jackson) who tallied up 11. Junior setter Jeremy Leyden (Cuyahoga Falls / Akron Hoban) led the way in assists as he tallied up 43 as well as 12 digs. Defensively, junior libero Steven Grenier (Hawthorn Hills, Ill. / Lake Zurich) collected 20 digs on the four-set match.
Mount Union was slow to start as they trailed at the beginning of the first set 7-4. A 3-0 run by Behrend forced a Purple Raider timeout at 16-11. The Raiders quickly went on a 3-0 run of their own to come back 19-16 and force a Lions timeout. A kill by junior Mark Bruns (Columbus / Upper Arlington) helped the Raiders come to 19-23, but the Lions took advantage of a Raider error to claim set one 25-20. Mount Union went up first in the second set 3-1, but the Lions quickly came back as they secured their 14-12 lead off a kill. Mount Union reclaimed their lead 16-15 off a kill from Sibbel. Back-to-back kills by the Raiders forced a Lions timeout as the Raiders led 20-18. The Raiders were able to continue their rally and take the second set 25-22 off a kill by Ternent. The Raiders dominated the first set going on a 6-0 run to force a Lions timeout early. Behrend chipped away to bring the deficit to two at 7-5, but the Raiders went on a 6-2 run to extend their lead to 14-8. The Raiders only gave up five more points on the set as they secured the win off a service error by Behrend 25-13. Behrend came off the set loss on a roll as they led 12-8 over the Raiders. A 4-1 run by the Raiders forced a Lions timeout as they led 16-14. Back-to-back kills by Matonis forced a Lions timeout as the Raiders led 20-18. An attack error by the Lions sealed the Purple Raiders win 25-21.
The Raiders will wrap up their regular season with a Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League doubleheader against Mount Saint Joseph with matches beginning at 1 and 3:30 pm with senior day festivities for Sibbel taking place prior to the first match.