(Posted January 31, 2006)

ERIE, Pa. ? The Juniata College men?s volleyball team got off to a hot start and then held off a Mercyhurst comeback to claim a 3-2 victory over the Division II foe in Erie Tuesday night.

Juniata got off to a hot start, claiming games one and two with relative ease. Mercyhurst battled back, winning a tight game three to seize momentum which they carried to a game-four win. The Eagles then came back again to claim the decisive game give and earn the win by game scores of 30-17, 30-24, 32-34, 25-30 and 15-11. Juniata is now 3-1 on the season, while Mercyhurst fell to 1-4.

The Eagles fell behind early in the final game five trailing 7-5. Juniata rallied, getting to the break leading 8-7 and then was in control for the rest of game five.

Matt Fritz (John Carroll/Churchville, Md.) led the Eagles with 16 kills in the match, marking the third-consecutive match in which he has topped double figures in kills. Jeremy Barndt (Souderton/Souderton) produced 13 kills with a .521 hitting percentage while also tossing in two aces. Matt Werle (Meadville/Meadville) directed the Juniata offense with 34 assists.

Matt Springer (William Allen/Allentown) also reached double figures with 11 kills and brought up a team-high 11 digs. Steve Yeager (Hempfield/East Petersburg) contributed to the defense with 10 digs, with Cordt Withum (Penn Manor/Holtwood) pacing the team with six blocks.

Juniata gets back in action Friday night with a match at Division I rival Penn State.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.