GENEVA, N.Y. – In the opener of the Statesmen Volleyball Classic Friday evening, the top-ranked Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team (9-0) battled past Misericordia (8-4) in straight-sets despite being tested heavily.

The tightly-contested win pushed their season-opening win streak to nine, matching the program record for most wins to begin a season set back in 2022.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A kill by sophomore Nicolai Bell (Moraga, Calif.) knotted a tight first set at 1-1 before the Cougars sprung out to a 6-3 lead. A kill by senior Jacob Waga (East Northport, N.Y.) cut the deficit to 6-5 before three services aces by junior Ryan Roller (West Hartford, Conn.) rallied the Leopards to a 9-8 lead. Misericordia battled back, later taking a 15-12 lead, before the two teams found themselves knotted later at 22-22 thanks to back-to-back kills by Bell and sophomore Benjamin Moughon (Mercer Island, Wash.). The two teams traded scores, working the set all the way up to 29-29, before a kill by Waga and a Cougar error marked a 31-29 set win for the Leopards.
• After Misericordia opened the second set with a 5-2 lead and later an 8-4 advantage, Wentworth battled back, tying the score at nine aside thanks to kills by Moughon and Waga. The two teams continued to trade points, with the Leopards tying the match at 13-all with a kill by senior Jacob LaBouliere (Pipersville, Pa.) before taking a 17-13 advantage. A kill by LaBouliere continued the lead to 19-16 before errors plagued both teams, resulting in a 23-22 score, before two kills by LaBouliere marked a 25-23 set win.
• The Cougars took a 4-1 advantage to start the third set before a kill by LaBouliere cut the deficit to 4-3. Two kills by Waga later cut the deficit to 6-5 before Misericordia stormed off with an 11-7 advantage. A kill by Bell cut the deficit to 11-10 before another later marked a 12-11 deficit. A kill by LaBouliere later gave Wentworth a 15-14 lead before another stretched the lead to 17-14. Misericordia roared back, eventually grabbing hold of a 23-22 lead, before the two teams squared up at 24 aside. A kill by Roller gave the Leopards a 25-24 edge before another helped Wentworth to a 28-26 set win and a match sweep.

SERIES NOTES:

• The second all-time meeting between the two teams, the Leopards lead the series, 2-0.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth plays No. 18 Baldwin Wallace and host Hobart tomorrow.
  
  

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