FREDERICK, Md. – The Hood College men's volleyball team could not out play Virginia Wesleyan University but go the distance with the University of Valley Forge, as the Blazers split the tri-match fallin g3-0 against Virginia Wesleyan and advancing 3-1 against Valley Forge.
Set Scores
In the first match, Virginia Wesleyan University swept Hood 25-22, 25-20, 25-20.
In the third match of the day The Blazers defeat the Patriots 25-22, 26-28, 25-22, 25-14.
In the game's other match, the Marlins defeated the Patriots 25-18, 25-20, 25-18.
Inside the Box Score
Charlie Casas led the team with 31 kills and three blocks on the day.
Gael Bravo (Lanham, Md./Bowie High School) finished with 63 assists after the trimatch.
Daniel Ward (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge High School) ended the afternoon with eight digs.
How it Happened – Virginia Wesleyan University
The first set started off evenly as both teams would exchange points until the Marlins gained a five point lead. With an attempt to cut the lead the Blazers fought back picking up four points getting within one point of Virginia Wesleyan after an attack by
Russell Odor (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) that made the score 17-16. Although the Blazers kept it close, they could not outpace the Marlins before they took the set.
The second set began similar to the first with neither team pulling away early. Hood gained an early lead going 3-2 after a Marlin error. Hood showed signs of a comeback bid scoring back to back points off a kill y
Sean Seely (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage High School) and a block by
Adam Bartice (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson) and Odor. Virginia Wesleyan then responded with a kill of its own and took the second set.
Both squads played well to start the third set as the Blazers again found themselves with a slight 12-11 lead, but the Marlins came back with two four point scoring runs to retake the lead before completing the sweep.
How it Happened – University of Valley Forge
Valley Forge got on the board early and gained an early lead until a Kill by Hood's Casas brought the Blazers out of the scoring deficit. Following the kill the Patriots managed to put togehter a four point run. The Blazers responded with a four point run of their own capped off by a Valley Forge error. Closing out the set the Blazers put together a three point scoring run with a Bartice kill assisted by Bravo that won Hood the first set 25-18.
In the second set after Hood scored the first point the Patriots responded with a five point scoring run capped off by a Tyler Younger kill. Admidst Hood's response five point scoring run late in the set the Blazers dropped a set to Valley Forge after a back to back battle 28-26.
The third set began similar to the second point by Hood and another four point scoring run by Valley Forge. The Patriots held a steadly lead until getting it ripped away by a Casas kill making it 20-19. The Blazers carried on with this momentum as Hood ended the set with back to back kills by Odor and Casas winning this set 25-22.
The final set featured back to back scoring from each team as both teams battled to find the leading edge. The Blazers then went on a seven point scoring run going up 14-9 on the Patriots. This run may have been the catalyst for the teams success at the Blazers put together another seven point scoring run gaining a nine point lead over the Patriots 21-12. Finishing out the set it would be kills by Bartice and Odor that made the final score 25-14 in favor of Hood.
Up Next
The Blazers will travel to Immaculata University for a nonconference matchup Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m.
