Men’s Volleyball goes 0-2 at Wells tri-match in New York

AURORA, N.Y. --- Carlow University men's volleyball went 0-2 in a tri-match at Wells College Saturday.

The Celtics fell to 3-16 overall and 0-7 in AMCC action and were short-handed on the trip without two athletes.

Game 1 vs. Wells: L, 3-0 (25-18, 25-9, 25-19)

Host Wells (7-20, 1-7 AMCC) picked up its first AMCC win of the season with a 3-0 victory over the Celtics to begin the afternoon.

Russ Cyprowski led Carlow with 10 kills, and Zachary Taylor tallied 11 digs in the effort.

The Express jumped out to a 16-8 lead in the first set before back-to-back kills from Cyprowski, a service ace by James Stone and an attacking error saw Carlow trailing by five. That is the closest the Celtics would get in the first set, as Wells maintained its lead to win, 25-18.

The Express made quick work of the Celtics in the second set, although Carlow started the game with a 4-3 advantage. Wells went on a 5-0 run to gain the lead and tacked on another 5-0 run to lead 15-6 before Carlow called a timeout.

A kill from Cyprowski and Joshua Lee were the final two points the Express allowed Carlow, outscoring the Celtics 10-2 to secure the 25-9 win.

Once again, Carlow began the third set with a marginal lead before Wells gained the advantage. Trailing 21-14, the Celtics strung together three points to cut Wells' lead to four, but the Express held on for the 25-19 set and match win.

Connor Garvey led all players with 14 kills as the Express hit .327 in the game and held Carlow to single digit kills in each set. Harrison Keena and Mason Moon combined for 25 digs.

Game 2 vs. Wilkes: L, 3-1 (25-23, 13-25, 16-25, 11-25)

The Colonels (17-8) picked up a reverse sweep against the Celtics after Carlow won the first set, 25-23.

Cyprowski led all players with 22 kills in the match. Stone and Taylor combined for 21 digs, and Ryan Callahan added 24 assists.

The Celtics started with a 5-3 lead in the first set before Wilkes quickly tied the score. Carlow tied the game four separate times before a service ace from Stone put the Celtis ahead, 10-9.

Both teams tied the score several times until Cyprowski hit three kills in a row to give Carlow a 21-19 lead late in the set. Following a Wilkes timeout, a kill from Lee and a service ace by Callahan gave Carlow a 23-19 advantage.

A few Carlow errors gave Wilkes hope, but Stone landed a kill to end the set 25-23 in favor of the Celtics.

The Colonels steadily pulled away from the Celtics throughout the second set enroute to a 25-13 victory.

The Celtics jumped out to a 4-1 lead to begin the third set. A brief Wilkes run handed the Colonels a 6-5 lead before a kill from Cyprowski tied it all at six.

An attack error put Carlow up 8-7, but Wilkes strung together a 7-2 run to lead, 14-10. Another attack error cut Wilkes' lead to three before the Colonels went on another run, this time 8-2 to lead, 22-13. The Celtics scored a few points in a row, but it was not enough as the Colonels won the third set, 25-16.

Wilkes went on an 8-0 run to lead 16-5 enroute to a decisive 25-11 fourth set and match win.

Jackson Shafer led the Colonels with 19 kills, and three different players tallied double figure assists in the win. Wilkes picked up six blocks, hit .333 and landed seven service aces.

Carlow returns to action Monday when they host Thiel College for a 7 p.m. AMCC match inside St. Joseph Athletic & Fitness Center gym.