LATROBE, Pa. (Jan. 23) – The Saint Vincent men's volleyball team used a balanced offensive attack and strong all-around play to earn a 3-0 (25-9, 25-19, 25-16) victory over Mount St. Joseph University Friday evening in non-conference action at the Robert S. Carey Center.
With the win, the Bearcats improve to 1-2 on the young season, while Mount St. Joseph falls to 0-3. The win is the 50
th in the head coaching career of
Kate McCauley.
Saint Vincent dominated from the opening set, hitting .354 as a team (36 kills on 98 attempts) while holding Mount St. Joseph to .071 hitting and limiting opponent opportunities. The Bearcats' balanced offense was powered by a trio of attackers and crisp ball distribution, giving SVC control in every rotation.
Leading the way offensively for Saint Vincent was
Shawn McSwiggen, who recorded nine kills and four aces, pacing the attack with aggressive hitting and serving.
Zebadiah Wyant added eight kills and an ace, while
Owen Ward contributed six kills as the Bearcats' frontline consistently put away chances.
Setter
Jack Ryan orchestrated the offense with a match-high 29 assists and also chipped in eight digs, keeping the Bearcats in system and helping stretch the floor.
Saint Vincent also showcased a strong all-around effort in the back row, finishing with 41 digs as a group and holding Mount St. Joseph to limited transition opportunities. The Bearcats recorded nine total aces and finished with four team blocks, including efforts from Ryan,
Braedan Artman and Wyant, giving the home team defensive balance throughout the night.
Set scores told the story of SVC's control: a commanding 25-9 first set, a competitive 25-19 second, and a closing 25-16 frame to seal the sweep. Saint Vincent's offensive efficiency and depth allowed the Bearcats to maintain momentum and close out sets with confidence.
The Bearcats will look to build on this victory as they take on Penn State-Altoona on Wednesday, January 28 at Saint Francis University. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at Saint Francis.
