PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. – The Neumann University men's volleyball battled to the end for a 3-2 win at the University of Valley Forge on Thursday evening.
 
The match was as close as one can be, as each set was won by just two points. The Patriots won the first set 25-23. The Knights answered with a 25-23 win of their own in set two. It took a couple extra points, but Valley Forge won set three 27-25. Neumann forced a fifth set with another 25-23 win in set four. Keeping with the theme, the match was won by a 15-13 score in set five by the Knights.
 
Veryl Burns notched 29 kills six blocks, five solo, while adding 17 digs in the win. Christian Johnson handed out 19 assists and eight digs. Gianni Smith tallied 18 assists and 10 digs. Brandon Baskerville finished with 22 digs and four service aces. Isaiah Raye-Ryan added 13 digs and seven kills. TJ McConnell had nine kills and five digs.
 
In the second set, the Knights took a 14-11 lead and scored seven straight points on service by Johnson for a 21-11 advantage. The Patriots answered with the next five points and later pulled to within one, 24-23. Neumann for the 25^th points on a kill by Johnson.
 
Tied at 11 in the fourth set, Valley Forge scored eight of the next 10 points for a 19-13 advantage. Neumann was able to get back to with one, 21-20, behind five straight points on serves by Raye-Ryan. The Knights rallied to score five of the final six points to take the fourth set and force their second straight five-set match.
 
Set five was no different. Down 13-12, a McConnell kill pulled the teams even. Two Patriot errors led to two points for the Knights and a 15-13 win to take the match 3-2.
 
Neumann (4-12) heads to Wilkes this weekend for a tri-match. The Knights will face the Colonels at 11:00 AM followed by Elmira at 1:00 PM.