BUFFALO, NY – For the second time this season, the Penn State Behrend men's volleyball team swept D'Youville 3-0 in non-conference action on Wednesday night. The Lions (10-4) won 25-9, 29-27 and 25-19 for their 10th win of the season.
Behrend spread the wealth in the victory. Nathan Steele (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) led with nine kills, while Antonio Vazquez (San Juan, Puerto Rico/UHS) added eight and Josh Oertly (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) finished with seven kills.
The Spartans (2-11) were paced by Matt Loos with 10 kills and Alex Johnson posted nine digs.
The Lions only allowed nine points total in the first set. Ty Sheehan (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) and Grant Kocher (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) combined to serve up nine points to take a 10-1 lead. Behrend extended the lead to 20-5 before winning the set on kills by Steele and Eric Theiss (Plum, PA/Plum).
D'Youville took the beginning lead in the second set and fought until the end. With seven ties, including 25-all and 27-all, Behrend got its next point off a service error and Vazquez closed the second set with a kill for a 2-0 Lions lead.
The Spartans to a small 7-6 lead early in the third, but the Lions went on a 9-2 run to take a 15-9 lead on a pair of kills by Oertly. D'Youville got within two points at 18-16. Behrend took advantage of four errors in the final six points to win 25-19.
Vazquez also added seven digs and one ace, while Mitch Farabaugh (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) dished out 19 assists.
The Lions return to action on Saturday against New Paltz St. at the UVC Crossover hosted by Elmira, beginning at 9 a.m.