Behrend Sweeps Penn State Altoona

Behrend Sweeps Penn State Altoona

ERIE, Pa.  – For the second time this season, the Penn State Behrend men's volleyball team defeated Penn State Altoona 3-0 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions (5-2, 3-0 AMCC) had a close first set, winning 25-23 and then posted scores of 25-13 and 25-20 to sweep the Lions (1-5, 0-2 AMCC). Josh Oertly (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) led Behrend with 11 kills and four blocks. Eric Theiss (Plum, PA/Plum) also posted double-digit kills with 10.

Altoona was led by Matt Huey with 13 kills, three digs and one ace. Jacob Byers added 11 kills and two blocks.

Half the combined points scored in the first set were by kills, including 11 by the Behrend and 12 from Altoona to keep the game close until the end. The Behrend Lions had a three-point edge at 18-15, but Altoona got a kill and an ace from Byers to go with a block from Dylan Godfrey and Zack Graham to knot it at 18-all.

From there, the set was point-for-point and at 23-all Oertly tallied his second kill of the game and Mitch Farabaugh (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) served the final point resulting in an attack error for a 1-0 lead in the match.

A quick 5-1 lead in the second set turned into a double-digit lead at 20-10 on a kill from Oertly. Ty Sheehan (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) posted two kills and Trenton Munk (Baden, PA/Ambridge) tallied another for a 25-13 win.

In the third set, the Behrend Lions used a 6-0 run to pull away from Altoona down the stretch to secure the win. At 18-17, Farabaugh registered an ace and Oertly knocked in two of his set-high five kills to put the Lions ahead 24-17. The Altoona Lions won the next there points at 24-20, but Oertly had the final say with a kill for match point.

Freshman Ryan Robida (Cheektowaga, NY/Maryvale) recorded a team-best 22 assists, while Farabaugh added 16 helpers. Sheehan finished with eight digs, seven kills and two blocks.

The Lions return to action on Saturday in a tri-match against MIT and New Paltz St. Matches begin at 10 a.m.