(Posted March 1, 2007)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Juniata College men\'s volleyball team continued to find ways to win close games as the Eagles overcame a two-games-to-one deficit to earn a 3-2 victory over visiting East Stroudsburg University in EIVA Tait Division action Thursday night. Jeremy Barndt (Souderton/Souderton) pounded out a career-high 24 kills with a .821 as Juniata (9-4, 4-3 EIVA Tait) hit .390 as a team to earn the victory by game scores of 23-30, 30-23, 21-30, 30-25, 15-11. East Stroudsburg (5-6, 2-3 EIVA Tait) got a match-high 26 kills from Justin Allcock and hit .346 as a team as neither team was able to slow the opponents\' offense. After having the momentum go back-and-forth throughout the match, Juniata seized the momentum early in the decisive game five. A double block from Barndt and Ryan McGinley (Pennridge/Perkasie) and then a solo block from Dan Powers (Manheim Township/Lancaster) helped Juniata build a sizeable 10-5 edge. Allcock halted the run with a kill, and another finish from Jon Daley helped the visitors cut the lead to 12-10. Juniata answered with a kill from Nate Ocasio (Northeastern/Manchester) and then another McGinley and Barndt double block put Juniata back in control. McGinley then sealed the win with his 11th kill of the match. Juniata had four players reach double figures in kills as Ocasio posted 18, and Matt Fritz (John Carroll/Churchville, Md.) added 10 for the Blue and Gold. Juniata hit better than .500 in games two and four but were limited to .308 and .208 in the games that were won by the visitors. The Warriors were consistent offensively the entire night as they hit .333 or better in each of the first four games, before struggling to a .045 mark in game five. Matt Werle (Meadville/Meadville) had 61 assists along with two of Juniata\'s five aces in the victory. He also tied Barndt for the team lead with five blocks. Steve Yeager (Hempfield/East Petersburg) paced Juniata with 10 digs, though the Eagles managed just 28 digs as a team, compared to 39 for the Warriors. East Stroudsburg also had four players post 10 or more kills. Keith Eckenrode knocked out 15 kills on the night, while Daley added 12. Tom German had 10 finishes with a .714 hitting percentage in four games. Adam Holdredge helped East Stroudsburg hit .346 as he dished out 62 assists. Daley tossed in four serves aces for the Warriors and also led the way with five blocks. Juniata will be out of action for 14 days before returning to the court March 17 with a road EIVA Tait match against Princeton. ###

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