PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Mar. 13)- The Saint Vincent men's volleyball won their fourth straight AMCC match to open the season, sweeping Carlow on the road on Wednesday night.
 
The Bearcats (12-7, 4-0 AMCC) defeated the Celtics (2-11, 2-1 AMCC) in straight sets by scores of 25-14, 25-12, and 25-14 to cruise to the three-set sweep.
 
Zebadiah Wyant led the way for the Bearcats with a team-high nine kills. Zach Wyant was strong for Saint Vincent as well, recording a game-high 21 assists in the win as well. Rocco Marino and Shawn McSwiggen both recorded five blocks as well, while McSwiggen alos added six kills.
 
Matthew Minkin totaled five kills and Matthew Klasnic recorded five digs for the Bearcats in the win.
 
In the first set, SVC quickly opened up to a 5-1 lead, including scoring the first three points on a kill from Minkin, followed by two attack errors from Carlow. The Bearcats continued on the attack, increasing their lead to six (13-7) after scoring four straight points on another kill from Minkin, followed by two service aces from Zach Wyant, and an attack error from the Celtics.
 
The Bearcats continued to dominate, closing the set outscoring Carlow 12-7 to earn the opening set win (25-14), ending the set on a kill from Zach Wyant, giving Saint Vincent a 1-0 lead.
 
It was much of the same story in the second set as well. After the Celtics took a 2-1 lead, Saint Vincent scored five straight points on kills by McSwiggen and Zeb Wyant, followed by two aces from McSwiggen and another kill from Wyant to take a 6-2 lead.
 
Over the next several points, the Bearcats went on to outscore Carlow 14-4, including four in a row to take a 20-10 lead in the set. SVC scored five of the next seven as well to win the second set (25-12), ending the set after a service error from the Celtics, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
 
It was all Bearcats in the third set as well as they went for the sweep. Saint Vincent socred seven of the first nine, including four in a row on two kills from Zeb Wyant, a kill by Marino, mixed between a Carlow attack error to take a 7-2 lead.
 
Saint Vincent increased their lead to double digits going up 18-8 after a kill from Anthony Ditonto assisted by Josh Havrilla. The teams traded the remaining points in the set, with the Bearcats outscoring Carlow by a slight 7-6 margin to win the third set (25-14), clinching the sweep after a kill from Tyler Nelson, once again assisted by Havrilla.
 
Saint Vincent led every major statistical category over the course of the match. The Bearcats compiled 34 kills, eight service aces, 11 blocks, 28 assists, and 28 digs. Carlow on the other hand was limited to 23 kills, one service ace, four blocks, 22 assists, and 25 digs.
 
Saint Vincent looks to keep their perfect AMCC record alive as they host Wells tomorrow, Thursday March 14 in a tri-match at 2 p.m. in the Robert S. Carey Center. The match will be a part of a tri-match where both SVC and Wells will take on Bethany as well. Saint Vincent will take on Bethany at 5 p.m. tomorrow as well.