(Posted January 23, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College men's volleyball blew by Harvard University, 3-0, Saturday evening for the Eagles' first win of the season at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center. The Eagles combined for a hitting percentage of .285, while Harvard attacked at a .103 rate.

Set scores for the Eagles were 30-22, 30-23, 30-27.

Zach Wanner (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) came up big for the Eagles, hitting .273 with 10 terminations, four errors on 22 attempts. Wanner also turned up a match-high 11 digs, and shelled out a pair of aces. Other offensive leaders for Juniata were Ben Wolff (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) with a hitting percentage of .545 slamming down seven kills, with only one error on 11 attempts. Middle hitter Evan Halteman hit .467 tying Wanner with 10 kills and just three errors on 15 swings. Halteman turned out five total blocks.

Setter Mike Kraft (York, Pa./Eastern York) dished out 33 assists for the Eagle and logged six digs. Senior libero Anthony Damiano (Lititiz, Pa./Manheim Township) finished the match with nine digs.

Outside hitter Erik Kuld led the way for Harvard in kills with 12 on 35 attempts. Matt Jones led the Crimson with 10 kills, six errors on 26 attempts just hitting .154 for the match.

Setter Rob Lothman set up 33 assists. Derek Jansma tallied nine digs for the match.

The Eagles soared through sets one and two, with the Crimson only catching up twice in the each set. The best chance for Harvard to take a set of Juniata came in the third set.

The scoreboard was tied through most of the beginning of set three. The Eagles gained a three point lead, 20-17, with a Halteman block, which started another three point run off Wanner's serve. A Wanner service ace and triple block Halteman, Kraft, and Chris Vrooman (Baden, Pa./Ambridge Area).

Juniata held its small lead over Harvard until the Crimson came within one point of the Eagles, 28-27, with a kill from Jones and an attack error from Kraft.

Juniata regrouped with a timeout and won the match with a Halteman kill to give the Eagles match point. Wanner served up a winner and forced Harvard's Kuld to hit the last ball out of bounds to give Juniata its first win of the season.

The Eagles' next match is on the road this Tuesday, January 26th against Penn State University. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Rec Hall.

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