BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (Feb. 27) — The Saint Vincent men's volleyball team extended its winning streak to nine matches Friday evening, earning a 3-1 road victory over Geneva College at Metheny Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Bearcats improve to 9-2 overall and remain perfect in Presidents' Athletic Conference play at 5-0, while the Golden Tornadoes fall to 7-13 overall and 1-4 in league action.
Saint Vincent established its rhythm early in the opening set, using efficient attacking and disciplined play at the net to secure a 25-21 win. The Bearcats spread the ball effectively across multiple hitters while limiting unforced errors, finishing the match with 47 kills and a .234 hitting percentage.
Strong serving pressure disrupted Geneva's offensive system and allowed SVC to control the tempo late in the frame.
Geneva answered in the second set, capitalizing on several Saint Vincent miscues to even the match with a 25-18 victory. The Golden Tornadoes found momentum from the service line and forced the Bearcats out of system, slowing SVC's offensive flow and creating separation midway through the set.
The turning point of the contest came in a tightly contested third set that featured extended rallies and multiple lead changes. Neither team gained more than a narrow advantage as the squads traded points throughout. Saint Vincent relied on its front-row presence in critical moments, using timely kills and disciplined blocking to fend off Geneva set points. The Bearcats ultimately captured the pivotal frame 29-27, seizing control of the match.
Carrying that momentum into the fourth, Saint Vincent delivered its most complete set of the night. The Bearcats jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, closing the match with a decisive 25-16 win. SVC's defense tightened in the final frame, converting digs into transition opportunities while its block slowed Geneva's attack at the net.
Zebadiah Wyant led the Bearcat offense with 18 kills and three service aces, while
Shawn McSwiggen added 13 kills and contributed in several extended rallies.
Tyler Nelson chipped in six kills to provide additional balance.
Jack Ryan directed the offense with 37 assists and added five blocks, while
Braeden Artman paced the team with six total blocks as Saint Vincent consistently disrupted Geneva's swings. Defensively,
Jackson Genicola anchored the back row with 15 digs to help withstand Geneva's pressure.
Geneva was led by Owen Kelley and Joshua Stowe with 12 kills apiece, while Andrew Ubinger recorded 41 assists. Despite strong individual performances, the Golden Tornadoes were unable to overcome Saint Vincent's consistency and late-set execution.
The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, March 6 with a road PAC matchup at Thiel. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in Greenville on Friday night.
