(Posted February 11, 2005)

Juniata 3, Stevens Tech 0

Huntingdon, Pa. ? For the second time this season the top-ranked Juniata College men?s volleyball team dispatched a top-10 Division III opponent in three games, this time earning a 3-0 victory over sixth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology in Huntingdon Friday night. The Eagles improved to 4-5 with the victory while the Ducks fell to 9-5. The Eagles took the match by game scores of 30-25, 30-21 and 30-27.

Game one was tight at the start only to see Juniata slowly begin to pull away mid-way through the game. A service ace from Juniata?s Cordt Withum (Penn Manor/Holtwood) followed by a Stevens Tech attack error gave the Eagles a 16-11 lead and force a timeout from the visitors. The Ducks stormed out of the timeout as they scored nine of the next 13 points getting a pair of kills from Brian Woodworth to cut the lead to 21-20 Juniata. The score was then tied at 22 and 23 before Juniata got a pair of kills from Glenn DeHaven (Walt Whitman/South Huntington, N.Y.) and then a double block from Jeremy Barndt (Souderton/Souderton) and Ricky Zielger (Northeastern/Manchester) to pull in front 27-24. Juniata then hung on to claim game one.

Juniata took control early in game two racing out to a 12-4 lead following a block from Barndt and Nate Ocasio (Northeastern/Manchester). Juniata maintained that sizeable lead for the remainder of the game with a block from Ocasio and Withum sealing the 30-21 win.

Juniata controlled game three most of the way as well as the Eagles pulled in front 14-6 on a kill from Nick Bernardo (Christopher Dock/Lansdale). Juniata kept the lead intact with a late kill from Robb Patty (Greater Latrobe/Latrobe) putting Juniata in front 26-18. Juniata pulled to 29-21 after a Stevens Tech service error but the Duck began battling back on the service of Woodworth. A block from Steven Strollo and William Foley started the run as the visitors ripped off five-straight point to pull within two at 29-27. But Juniata hung on as Woodworth?s serve sailed long, clinching the 30-27 win.

Ocasio led Juniata?s attack as he finished with 12 kills and a .667 hitting percentage. Juniata hit .341 as a team despite just attacking at a .138 clip in game three. DeHaven added nine finishes for the Eagles, while Bernardo and Barndt both had eight. Ziegler passed out 35 assists in directing the Juniata offense. DeHaven and Steve Yeager (Hempfield/East Petersburg) both recorded a team-high five digs, with Barndt and Withum each piling up five blocks. Juniata finished with 11 blocks as a team, its highest single-match total of the season.

Stevens Tech was led by Woodworth who finished with a match-high 15 kills. Strollo passed out 39 assists for the Ducks. Defensively Chris Bock paced the team with eight digs, with Strollo contributing a pair of blocks.

Juniata returns to action on Wednesday as the Eagles travel to take on EIVA Tait Division rival Penn State.

###

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.