LATROBE, Pa. (Jan. 22) - The Saint Vincent College men's volleyball team welcomed Wittenberg University for a season-opening doubleheader in the Robert S. Carey Center. The Bearcats fell to the Tigers in both matches, 3-0.

MATCH 1: WITTENBERG 3, SAINT VINCENT 0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-13)

Wittenberg (3-2, 0-0 MCVL) opened the match by winning five out of the first seven points. Saint Vincent (0-2, 0-0 AMCC) tried to battle back but struggled to overcome the large deficit. The Tigers took the set 25-11.

In the second set, Wittenberg took an early lead at 11-8. Saint Vincent tied the set at 16 and the teams traded points from there. SVC, however, struggled to gain the lead as the Tigers climbed out of the set with a 25-17 win. 

Wittenberg led the third set by eight points, 16-8, holding the Bearcats to just five additional points to take the set and match 25-13. 

Matthew Minkin led the Bearcats with eight kills while Ethan Kammerer finished with three. Matthew Furrer completed the contest with nine assists and also led the team in digs with six. 

MATCH 2: WITTENBERG 3 SAINT VINCENT 0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-14)

Wittenberg opened the match by winning five of the first eight points. Saint Vincent wasn't about to let that dwindle their fire, as they tied the contest at 10 a piece. A kill by Minkin gave the Bearcats the one point deficit, 15-14. SVC stayed in the contest, trailing by two after a kill by Zachary Mumpower from Furrer, 20-18. The Tigers grabbed the next four points, clinching the set 25-19.

The second set was back and forth, as Wittenberg held the 10-7 lead. The Tigers scored the next six out of seven points to give them the 16-8 edge. The deficit was too much for the Bearcats to overcome as they fall in set two, 25-13.

Wittenberg and SVC were tied at six to open the third set. The Bearcats crept their way back into the set after a Tigers service error, 13-11. Wittenberg tallied the next six points, holding the 19-11 lead. The Bearcats could not come back as they fall in the set and match, 25-14.

Kammerer led the Bearcats with seven kills while Minkin chipped in six. Furrer completed the contest with eight assists and Joshua Canty led the team in digs with nine.

Saint Vincent travels to Juniata College on Tuesday, Jan. 25, for a non-conference showdown. Start time is 7 p.m.