Men's Volleyball Rallies Against Rutgers-Newark

The Wittenberg University men’s volleyball team took down the Rutgers-Newark Raiders in thrilling fashion 3-2 on Tuesday evening, from Mount St. Joseph University.

Men's Volleyball Rallies Against Rutgers-Newark
March 13, 2018
Box Score

Cincinnati, Ohio – The Wittenberg University men's volleyball team took down the Rutgers-Newark Raiders in thrilling fashion 3-2 [23-25, 19-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-13] on Tuesday evening in a neutral court matchup from Mount St. Joseph University. After the Raiders took the first two sets, the Tigers rallied to claim the next two sets, including the fifth and final set. Wittenberg tallied 50 kills on 140 total attack attempts on the night for a .186 attacking percentage. A trio of Tigers finished with double-digit kills on the night, leading the way with 13 each was Ashton Sellers and Mason Moldovan. Adding 11 kills on 23 total attack attempts, along with a service ace and three blocks was Isaiah Brock.

 

GAME BREAKDOWN

Wittenberg opened up the match with a .276 attacking percentage, converting on 29 total attack attempts for 12 kills and just four errors. After putting down just eight kills in the second set on 36 attack attempts, leaving Rutgers-Newark open to a .346 second set attacking percentage. The Tiger's shifted the momentum in the third set, allowing the Raiders to convert only eight kills on 25 attempts. While Wittenberg landed nine of their 26 total attack attempts in the area of play for a .154 attacking percentage. The Tigers forced eight Rutgers-Newark errors in the third set. The Tiger's continued to attack throughout the fourth set, leading to a .200 attacking percentage with 13 attacks on 35 attempts and six errors. Rutgers took an early lead in the fourth set, jumping out to a quick 4-1 advantage. Wittenberg fought back, knotting things back up at 17-17 after a Rutgers-Newark handling error. A Justin Luby service ace knotted the game back up at 22 apiece, leading Moldovan to get the kill giving the Tigers the serve at 23-23. Moldovan would get the service for the final two points. After a Rutgers-Newark error, Jackson Tyler got the final kill of the fourth set. Wittenberg jumped out to an early lead in the final set, taking a quick 6-2 advantage in the final set. As the game came down to the final points, Wittenberg recorded a .500 attacking percentage converting eight kills on 14 attack attempts with just one error. The Tiger's would take the final point, capitalizing on one of two solo blocks Moldovan had on the night.

 

UP NEXT: Wittenberg will take a weekend conference road trip to battle Olivet on Friday, March 16 at 7:00 PM, returning to action on Saturday, March 17 at 1:00 PM against Adrian.