Men's Volleyball Defeats Greenville 3-1

Springfield, Ohio – The Wittenberg men's volleyball team returned to action, hosting the Panthers of Greenville University from the Emmanuel Christian Academy. Wittenberg took down the Panthers 3-1 [25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 25-18]. After a long stint on the road, the Tigers return to home had to be moved due to NCAA DIII men's basketball tournament action at Pam Evans Smith Arena. The home away from home didn't stop the Tigers from jumping out to an early lead over the Panthers by taking the first two sets. Wittenberg tallied a .330 attacking percentage on the night, as Ashton Sellers (15) and Mason Moldovan (11) led the Tiger offense with double-digit kills.

SET ONE

Wittenberg came out swinging with a first set attacking percentage .273, converting on 33 total attack attempts for 14 kills. Wittenberg rode out the Justin Luby service streak, extending an early lead out to 10-6 as Moldovan collected back-to-back kills. Another kill by Moldovan took the Tigers up 20-14. Sellers would bring Wittenberg within one point of taking the first set before a Greenville service error would give the Tigers the first set victory.

SET TWO

Jumping out to a quick 6-2 lead in the second set, Wittenberg kept the offense going pushing the lead to 10-4 on the Sellers service ace. The Tiger's lead would double their opponents when Deion Woodson converted on back-to-back kills before Moldovan planted a service ace past the Panther defense taking the Wittenberg lead to 15-6. With the Wittenberg lead holding strong at 20-10, Luby added another kill to his total. Wittenberg tallied a .370 attacking percentage in the second set, converting 16 kills on 27 attack attempts.

SET THREE

Logging one of their best sets of the season with a .529 attacking percentage. Recording just three errors on 17 attack attempts with 12 kills. The two sides exchanged points, as Wittenberg was able to come back from 13-9 Greenville deficit. The Tigers forced three Greenville errors in the set, as the Panthers would go on to convert on 14 of 22 attack attempts to take their only set of the match.

SET FOUR

Wittenberg tallied a .241 attacking percentage in the final set, converting on 13 of 29 attack attempts. The Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, capitalizing off the Deion Woodson kills. A kill by Sellers would give Wittenberg a 15-11 advantage. Back-to-back service aces by Sellers pushed the Tiger lead out even further to 19-11. Wittenberg stifled the Greenville attack in the final set, holding the Panthers to six kills on 25 attempts for a .120 attacking percentage.

UP NEXT: Wittenberg will return to Emmanuel Christian Academy for a tri-match with Hiram and Fontbonne starting at 11:00 AM.