ERIE, Pa. (Jan. 28)- The Saint Vincent men's volleyball traveled to Penn State-Behrend for a non-conference tri-match against both Penn State-Behrend and Concordia (Wisconsin). The Bearcats fell in both matches by scores of 3-0.
 
Game 1: Concordia (Wis.) 3, Saint Vincent 0
In the Bearcats first match of the day the Bearcats were swept in three sets by scores of 26-24, 25-18, and 25-14.
 
Zebadiah Wyant led the way for the Bearcats with a team best nine kills, while also picking up four digs. Matthew Minkin was solid for SVC as well with seven kills, two aces, and four digs. Shawn McSwiggen added four kills and Zach Wyant recorded a team high 19 assists in the loss for the Bearcats.
 
The Bearcats jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, scoring on kills by McSwiggen and Zeb Wyant, followed by an attack error by Concordia. The Falcons answered back with a 5-1 run to take a 6-4 lead. The Bearcats answered with a quick 3-0 run on a kill by Zach Wyant, a service ace by Zeb Wyant, and an attack error by Concordia to regain the lead at 7-6.
 
Over the next several points the Bearcats lead continued to grow as Saint Vincent led 17-13 in the set after a service error by the Falcons. The lead grew to five after a kill by Zeb Wyant and an attack error by the Falcons handed the Bearcats a 24-19 lead. Concordia never looked back as they scored the next seven points to win the set 26-24, taking a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
It was all Concordia in the second set as the Falcons led from start to finish. The Bearcats kept the set close trailing 8-7 and tying the set up at 13-13 and then 14-14. After the score was tied at 14, the Falcons scored six of the next seven points to increase their lead to five at 20-15. The Bearcats cut into the Concordia lead slightly after a kill from Zeb Wyant cut the score to 21-18. The Falcons scored the final four points to win the second set 25-18, taking a 2-0 lead overall.
 
In the third set, the Bearcats scored the first three points of the set on an attack error by Concordia, a kill by Zeb Wyant, and a service ace by Minkin. Over the next several points, SVC and Concordia traded points as the Bearcats still held a 7-4 lead. Concordia turned things around at that point, outscoring the Bearcats 11-6 to take a 15-13 lead in the set. The Falcons continued their momentum, scoring the next nine points and ten of 11 to take win the set 25-14 and the match 3-0.
 
Game 2: Penn State-Behrend 3, Saint Vincent 0
In the Bearcats second game of the day, Saint Vincent lost in three sets, by scores of 25-21, 25-13, and 25-20.
 
Zebadiah Wyant once again led the way for Saint Vincent. In this match Wyant compiled a team best eight kills, while also picking up one service ace. Matthew Minkin recorded seven kills and a team high 10 digs. Zachary Mumpower added five kills and Zach Wyant recorded a team best 26 assists.
 
In the first set both teams traded the first several points as the set was tied 5-5. The trend continued over the next four points as the game remained tied at 9-9, 16-16, and 18-18 as neither team took control in the set. The Lions then scored six of the next eight points to take a 24-20 lead. After an attack error gave the Bearcats a point to cut it to 24-21, Behrend ended the set with a kill to win the set 25-21, taking a 1-0 lead.
 
It was much of the same story in the second set as the score was tied 6-6 early on. Penn State-Behrend then went on a quick 5-0 run to take a commanding 11-6 lead in the set. The Lions increased their lead to 19-11, taking full control of the set. Saint Vincent attempted to cut into the Lions lead after back-to-back kills by Minkin made the score 19-13. Behrend went on to score the next six points to win the second set 25-13.
 
Just as they did in the first two sets, the in the third set, they traded the first several points as the game was tied 6-6, 8-8, 10-10, 12-12, and then 17-17. After back-to-back kills by Zeb Wyant and Anthony Ditonto, SVC held a slight 19-17 lead, destined to force a fourth set. Behrend answered with three straight points and scored eight of nine to win the set 25-20 and the match 3-0.
 
The Bearcats return to action on Tuesday, January 31 when they play host to Penn State-Altoona in an AMCC match in the Robert S. Carey Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.