CRESSON, Pa. -- The Mount Aloysius men's volleyball program suffered a four-set defeat to the visiting Chatham Cougars (2-4, 0-0 PAC) this Saturday, Feb 1. Senior Andrew Wlodarczyk (East Aurora, N.Y., East Aurora) would lead the Mounties in both kills and digs, tallying twelve and eight respectively. 

The first set would maintain a back-and-forth pace until the midway point, when a five-point swing from Chatham would find the Mounties down 19-15. Responding with a handful of kills to pull themselves back within two, the Mounties would find themselves again able to trade points with the visitors, but struggle to overcome the slight deficit. The programs would trade kills for the last six points of the set, leading to a 22-25 Mountie loss. 

The Mounties would respond with energy in the second, taking a quick 16-9 lead behind a steady stream of kills, including four from freshman Zach Rosenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler), while Chatham struggle with attack errors. Despite the Cougars eventually finding an offensive rhythm, the visitors would run out of time to mount a counterattack, with the hosts taking the second 25-17. 

Even at a set a piece, both teams would look to dictate with strong forward play, but a key attack error late in the set would put the Cougars in position, leading 18-13. Again the Mounties were able to trade points down the stretch, but struggle to put together a sizable run, dropping the third 21-25. 

The fourth set would find the teams in a dead heat, going into the final points with a slight Mountie edge, 21-19. Following a handful of kills aided by opponent errors, the Mounties would find themselves in position to force a fifth, leading 24-21. However, late mistakes from the hosts would lead to an even set at 24-all, going in to extra points. While a late block would put the Mounties again in position to take the set, the Cougars would hold on, taking the set and the match 27-25 in the fourth. 

Mount Aloysius men's volleyball returns to action this Tuesday, Feb 4, taking on the Hood College Blazers at home. Hood enters the contest 1-5 this season, coming off a 3-2 win over Wilson College.