IMMACULATA, Pa. – The Neumann University Men's Volleyball team were stopped in a challenging United East Conference match on Tuesday night as they fell, 3-0 against Immaculata University.
The match began as a close affair as neither team went on a run of more than two until a three-point run by Immaculata to make it 10-8 in their favor. Neumann responded right back with their own triple run to retake a one-point lead. With the Mighty Macs leading 14-13, the Knights roared on with six of the next seven points to lead 19-15. They were able to take the initial set by a score of 25-20.
The Knights got off to a quicker start in the second as they had an early 3-1 lead. With the set even at three, Neumann nabbed a 6-1 run to make it 9-4 in their favor. They were able to maintain that lead all the way to 23-17 before Immaculata had their only run of three in the set, getting withing 23-20 before the Knights took the set, 25-21.
The Mighty Macs started to fight back as they powered to a 5-1 lead in the third. A run of 4-1 would get Neumann back in the set but Immaculata would use a five-point push for an 11-5 lead. The Knights got back within two at 15-13 and again they would give up a stretch, this one was 5-1. A three-point Neumann run was not enough as the Mighty Macs scored the last five points to force a fourth set.
It was a tight beginning to the fourth but with the score tied at 10, Immaculata scored 12 of the next 13 to take control. They were able to cruise to a 25-15 win to send the match to a deciding fifth and final set.
As you would expect in a winner-take-all situation, the fifth set was tense to start. The Mighty Macs held a 6-4 lead, but the Knights were able to answer with a five-point run to lead 9-6. Immaculata kept it tight, then staving off a match point on their way to a 16-14 set win to complete the comeback.
Trey Edmonds led the offense with 13 kills and three service aces, adding 11 digs.
Isaiah Thomas contributed nine kills and eight digs.
Noah Banaag had 28 assist while
John Soeffing had a block solo and a block assist.
Neumann (3-11, 1-4 United East) will return to the court on Friday night for a non-conference match at King's College, starting at 5:00 PM.
