Lions Extend Win Streak to Six at D’Youville

Lions Extend Win Streak to Six at D’Youville

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Penn State Altoona men's volleyball recorded its sixth consecutive victory on Saturday afternoon, when the Lions defeated North Eastern Athletic Conference and Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent D'Youville College 3-1 at the College Center Gym.

The Lions (14-10, 5-1 NEAC / 3-1 AMCC) posted a perfect 6-0 record during the month of March. On Saturday, they capped the month with a 25-17, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21 win over D'Youville (7-16, 3-5 NEAC / 2-2 AMCC).

Brian Sheddy (Shrewsbury, PA/Susquehannock) tied for the match-high in kills with 15, and he also finished with eight digs and five block assists. Dan Downs (Reading, PA/Daniel Boone) put up 10 kills, six block assists, and two solo blocks. Justin Bannister (Willow Hill, PA/Fannett-Metal) had eight kills, eight digs, and two block assists, and Dylan Appleman (Roaring Spring, PA/Central) posted six kills, two service aces, two block assists, and one solo block.

Tommy Kisick (Latrobe, PA/Greater Latrobe) led the Lions in assists with 37, and he also contributed eight digs, four kills, one solo block, and one block assist. Brandon Arentz (Mount Wolf, PA/Northeastern) had a match-high nine digs.

Tied 13-13 in the first set, Penn State Altoona ended the set on a 12-4 run. Three of the Lions' final 12 points came courtesy of kills from Downs, and Appleman's kill accounted for the final point of the set.

D'Youville won the second set, during which the Spartans never trailed. But Penn State Altoona responded with a win in the third set to reclaim its lead in the match. Up 22-20, the Lions used a kill from Sheddy and a block from Appleman to double their lead. A D'Youville attack error provided the 25th point of the set for Penn State Altoona.

The Spartans jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth set, but the Lions reeled off an 8-3 run – capped by Sheddy's ace – to tie the score 8-8. Later, Downs and Appleman combined for a block to give Penn State Altoona its largest lead of the set, 21-14. Appleman's ace finished off the set and the match.

Penn State Altoona men's volleyball's next match is next Friday, April 6, when the Lions will travel to play NEAC opponent SUNY Polytechnic Instutite for a 7:00 p.m. match.