by Christina Roukas

BUENA VISTA, Va. –  The Penn State Altoona men's volleyball team started its 2023 season with a loss to No. 13 Southern Virginia University on Friday night, falling 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-9) in the Knight Arena.

From the start, the Lions (0-1) had a hard time in serve receive, giving Southern Virginia (1-0) a 7-0 lead until the Knights broke their scoring streak with a service error that put Penn State Altoona on the board. Jared Kish (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Darby) scored the Lions' first kill to make it 8-2. Penn State Altoona picked up its hustle and stayed within six points, 16-10, later in the set, but another 7-0 run by Southern Virginia helped the home team to a 25-11 win in set one.

In the second set, the Lions played better offensively. Avery Farabaugh's (Ebensburg, PA/Cambria Heights) tip lowered a Penn State Altoona deficit to 13-9. Later, Kish and Alex Ferry (Warren, PA/Warren) combined on a block to make it 20-12, and Ferry's hit for a kill brought the Lions to within seven, 21-14. But once again, Southern Virginia pulled out a victory, winning the second set 25-15.

In the third set, Kish's kill trimmed an early Southern Virginia lead to 6-3. However, the Knights broke the game open by establishing a double-digit lead over Penn State Altoona. Kish's hit for a kill kept the Lions alive late in the set, 21-9, but the home team ultimately won the third set 25-9.

Kish led Penn State Altoona with 4.5 points on four kills and a block assist, and Farabaugh totaled three points on three kills. Ferry finished with a team-high two block assists while recording one kill.

Xavier Vang (Rogers, MN/Rogers) tallied eight assists to go along with two digs and one block assist. Jeremy Winter (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) recorded a team-best five digs, and Willem Del Priore (Seven Valleys, PA/Dallastown) had four digs and one service ace.

The Penn State Altoona men's volleyball team continues its season in Virginia tomorrow, Saturday, January 21, playing Roanoke College at 6:00 p.m.