Wilkes-Barre, Pa. -- Mount Aloysius men's volleyball went even in this weekend's lion-logoed tri-match, falling to the King's College Monarchs before defeating the Bryn Athyn Lions.

Leaders: 

- Junior Matthew Franz (Johnstown, Ohio, Bishop Hartley) led the Mounties in kills this weekend, recording 21 across both games. 
- Freshman Evan Schmidt (Loganville, Pa. , Dallastown Area) consistently set up the attack, earning a team high 51 assists on Saturday. 
- Sophomore Jason Freed (East Aurora, N.Y., East Aurora) led his team in attack percentage, averaging .404 across both games. 

Game One (King's):

How It Happened:

- Both teams took time settling in, trading three point runs amid an even split of aces, kills, and errors. 
- Mountie return trouble earned King's a five point lead, pushing the hosts within 8 points of taking the first.
- Despite picking up 6 kills in the next 11 points, the Mounties could not find the necessary consistency, falling 21-25.
- King's would maintain their momentum, erupting to a 23-13 lead as the Mounties struggled to attack without errors. 
- Junior Andrew Wlodarczyk (East Aurora, N.Y., East Aurora) would lead the Mounties to a late five-point run behind his serve, but a pair of kills would close the second 25-18. 
- The Mounties opened the third strong against the Monarchs, keeping pace through the first 25 points as both teams traded kills. 
- Trouble began at 13-13, where the hosts would earn a 7-point run, evenly fueled by Mountie errors and Monarch attacks. 
- The run would prove insurmountable, as continued kills from King's would seal the set and match, ending 18-25 to the Monarchs. 

Into the Box Score:

- King's College would find more success than the Mounties at the net, picking up 8 more blocks and 8 more kills than the visitors. 
- Both teams defended in the back court evenly, each picking up 32 digs. 
- The Monarchs attacked efficiently, recording a team .326 percentage. 

Game Two (Bryn Athyn): 

How It Happened: 

- Still reeling from the first game, the Mounties would play slow to start, going even with the Lions late into the first set as both teams traded errors. 
- Committing to consistent play at 18-18, sophomore Connor O'Mealia (North Chili, N.Y., Churchville Chili) would serve the Mounties to a six point run including a pair of Wlodarczyk kills. 
- A final kill from Wlodarczyk would end the first in the Mounties favor, 25-19. 
- Refocused and revitalized, the Mounties would carve out a steady lead in the second, piecing together kills while limiting errors on the attack. 
- Strength of serve kept Bryn Athyn in the set as the Mounties still struggled to return, but errors plagued the Lions from the opening of the match. 
- The Mounties kept up the pressure until the end of the set, where a Freed kill would finish the second off, 25-16. 
- The third went the way of Mount Aloysius from the very first points, with the Mounties taking a 10-2 lead behind great attacks from the front. 
- Unable to consistently find successful attacks, the Lions would find themselves in an 11 point hole late, trailing the Mounties 19-8. 
- The Mounties kept their foot on the gas, with three kills and two aces helping them to a final 5 point run. 
- Traded errors would end the set and the match to the Mounties, 25-9.

Into the Box Score:

- The Lions could not keep up with the Mounties attacking, with Mount Aloysius earning 19 more kills than their opponents. 
- The Mounties outserved their opponents, earning 8 aces to the Lions' 3. 
- Mount Aloysius defended well, picking up 40 digs, while Bryn Athyn picked up 30. 

Up Next: 

- Mount Aloysius men's volleyball takes on the Hood College Blazers this Tuesday, January 30th. Hood enters the contest 2-1 overall, coming off a 3-0 win over Penn State Schuylkill.