Cresson, Pa. -- Mount Aloysius men's volleyball opened their 2024 campaign with a win over the Bard College Raptors and a loss to the Wilkes University Colonels this Saturday, January 20th. 

Leaders: 

- Juniors Andrew Wlodarczyk (East Aurora, N.Y., East Aurora) and Matthew Franz (Johnstown, Ohio, Bishop Hartley) took on the offensive responsibility for the Mounties, combining for 32 kills across the six sets of play. 
- Freshman Evan Schmidt (Loganville, Pa. , Dallastown Area) led the Mounties in assist with 43 across both games. 
- Junior Jason Freed (East Aurora, N.Y., East Aurora) led the defensive effort at the net, blocking 5 attacks in both games. 

Game One (Bard):

How It Happened:

- A handful of errors from the Raptors opened the door early for the Mounties, who capitalized to take an early 9-3 lead. 
- Trading errors and kills at an even rate for the next few points, sophomore Connor O'Mealia (North Chili, N.Y., Churchville Chili) would increase the Mountie deficit, picking up back to back service aces to put his team up 16-7. 
- Again the teams would settle in to trading kills and errors, with the Mounties holding on to take the first set 25-18. 
- Checkered with service and attack errors, a sloppy first half of the second would result in the Mounties nabbing a 14-9 lead. 
- Bard would find some offense, turning on the intensity to even the score at 16-all.
- Up 20-19 heading into the final points, the Mounties would execute at their highest level, ending the set on a five point run bolstered by 3 kills and a service ace. 
- Fighting to stay in the match, Bard would begin the third more focused, attacking with higher efficacy and keeping the Mounties from pulling ahead. 
- Neither team would find much breathing room, struggling to extend their leads beyond two points, eventually settling even at 20-all. 
- A clutch block by Freed would shake the Raptors, who gave up two quick errors to put the hosts up 23-21.
- Two final kills from Franz would push Mount Aloysius past Bard, grabbing the set and match 25-23. 

Into the Box Score:

- Mount Aloysius gained the lead over Bard in kills, tallying 33 as a team to the Raptors' 26. 
- The Mountie defense was also more effective than the visitors, earning five more digs and one more block than Bard. 

Game Two (Wilkes): 

How It Happened: 

- Wilkes's size proved difficult for the Mounties, facing a much more stifling net presence than they had earlier. 
- Even through the first twenty points, a pair of blocks and kills from Wilkes pushed the Mounties into a 9-14 deficit. 
- Categorized by less errors than the previous match, both teams continued to trade points until a trio of kills would swell the Colonels' lead to 7. 
- Wilkes struggled to close as the Mounties battled back, pushing the set to 20-23. 
- A final pair of kills would seal the set for the Colonels, 25-20.
- The second got away from the Mounties early, who faced 7 kills and 2 blocks from Wilkes as they fell behind 1-12. 
- Picking up a few points here and there, the Mounties would suddenly come to life at 17-7, going on a 7-1 run behind impressive serving from O'Mealia and Schmidt.
- Wilkes would call a timeout to calm the momentum, an effective strategy as the Colonels would focus back up and close the set 25-16. 
- The third set would go the way of the first, even through the first twenty points until a set of Colonel blocks would give the visitors a 13-9 lead. 
- Although back and forth through the rest of the set, the deficit was enough for Wilkes to close the match with a 25-19 victory. 

Into the Box Score:

- Wilkes's defense was responsible for 5 more team blocks than the Mounties, and 9 more digs. 
- The Colonels dominated in kills, recording 42 to Mount Aloysius's 23. 

Up Next: 

- Mount Aloysius men's volleyball hosts Wilson this Tuesday, January 23rd. Wilson enters the contest 1-0 on the season, coming off a 3-1 defeat of Hood College.