Cougars Roar Past Eagles

UNION, N.J.- The Juniata men's volleyball team lost at #4 Kean University, 3-1 (23-25, 21-25, 25-22, 19-25) Sunday afternoon at Harwood Arena.

Quinn Peterson (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge) had 18 kills, a solo block and three block assists. Joe Fick (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) tallied nine kills and 10 digs while Mahlon Bender (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) totaled six kills and four block assists. Sean Cavanagh (Cranberry, Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) had five kills, an ace, six digs, two solo blocks and two block assists. Matt Schaeffer (Mount Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) had 40 assists and three digs.

The first set was tightly contested throughout with neither team leading by more than three at any point. The Eagles led late in the opening set, 22-21, following a Vasinko kill but Kean took the next two points before another Vasinko kill tied the score at 23. The Cougars nabbed the final two points of the set to win, 25-23. 

The second was similar to the last, as JC trailed after an early 4-3 lead but kept the deficit within three until late. The Cougars went up 17-21 and while JC managed to get within three twice Kean took the second set 25-21.

The third set saw the Eagles go ahead at 8-7 and they didn't relinquish the lead. The Cougars hung around and later pulled within one, 18-17. A service error, an attack error, a block from Cavanagh followed by kills by Peterson and Cavanagh put the Eagles ahead 23-17. After calling a timeout, the Cougars scored five straight to make JC a little nervous. A kill from Peterson and an ace by Cavanagh handed the Eagles the set.

The fourth set saw the Eagles nipping at the Cougars heels for most of the set with a kill and a service error helping them get within one at both 16-17 and 17-18. Kean rattled off the next seven the final nine points to take the match. 

Juniata drops to 10-11 on the year and will host Ramapo, Saturday at 1:00.