Lions Split at Juniata in Season Finale

HUNTINGDON, Pa.  – The Penn State Behrend men's volleyball team split their final pair of matches of the season, falling to Juniata 3-0 before defeating St. John Fisher 3-0 in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions (14-11) defeated the Cardinals (13-15) 25-13, 25-18 and 25-23 to end the season with a win. The Eagles managed a 25-19, 29-27, 25-18 victory in the first match of the day. Dillon Hildebrand (Red Lions, PA/Red Lion) combined for 19 kills on the day while Robert McMaster (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) added 17 digs.

Hildebrand registered 10 kills and JP Goodsel (Corry, PA/Corry) added nine to help Behrend sweep St. John Fisher in the season finale. In the first set, Cody Geis (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) served five straight points to get the Lions out of a 6-5 deficit and take the lead for good at 11-6. Behrend only allowed seven more points for a 25-13 win.

The Lions never trailed in the second set to get the 25-18 decision for a 2-0 lead in the match. Behrend tallied a match-high 13 kills in the third set, including three kills by Goodsel, Herrmann and Hildebrand. The Cardinals went ahead 23-22 on an ace, but Geis tallied a kill to even the match before the Lions won on a pair of attack errors by St. John Fisher at 25-23.

In the opening match, Juniata had double-digit kills in each match including 20 in the final set for the sweep. Hildebrand tallied nine kills and Anthony Spretnz totaled 24 assists to go with 32 from the second match.

After falling 25-19 in the first set, Behrend battled back in the second to set point but fell on back-to-back kills at 29-27. The Eagles pulled away to a double-digit lead in the third at 20-10 and finished at 25-18 for the three-set win.