The Misericordia University men's volleyball team kicked off their inaugural season, Friday, at the Anderson Center in the Cougar Kickoff Classic. The Cougars won their first match in program history, defeating Neumann University, 3-0 before falling to the Penn State-Altoona in the nightcap.
Against Neumann, Ryan Miller led Misericordia with 16 kills. Bailey Brugler had 25 assists and five digs while Michael Trygar, Matt Lavin, and Miller each had two blocks. Caleb Bauder had a game-high four aces.
The Cougars scored their first-ever point on a service error by Khash Eshaghi to tie the first set at 1 early on. Miller followed with the first kill and Bauder and Lavin had the first blocks a few points later to give the Cougars a 6-5 lead.
At 13-11, Misericordia went on a 4-0 run to create separation thanks to kills by Bauder and John Natiello and an ace by Michael Mohutsky. The Cougars closed the set on a 6-3 run to win, 25-18.
In the second set, the Knights had a 13-10 lead but a 4-1 mini run by the Cougars tied it up. MU then went on a 6-0 run, which included two big kills by Miller to take control of the second set and win it, 25-17.
The Cougars started fast in the third set, jumping out to an 11-1 lead. Miller and Brugler each had two kills during the run while Brugler also contributed with a block. Neumann got back to within four, but the Cougars were able to close out the match and win the set, 25-18, on a service error by Jerrod Roundtree.
In the second match of the day, Misericordia faced Altoona, the only team in the tournament who is not in their first season. The Nittany Lions are in the sixth season and are coming off their best year, going 26-7 and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Miller led the Cougars again with seven kills while Brugler had 14 assists and four blocks. Matt Churchill paced the team with four digs.
The Cougars won the first point of the match on one of the longest rallies of the day culminating with a kill by Miller. At 3-3, Altoona went on a 5-0 run to seize control and easily won the first set 25-14.
The second set started similar to first, with a long rally ending with a kill by Miller, but as was also the case in the first set, the Nittany Lions went on a big run to take a 13-4 lead. Misericordia got it back to with seven, but that was as close as they would get, as Altoona won 25-13.
In the third set, Altoona jumped out to 9-3 lead. A kill by Lavin a couple of points later got the Cougars to within five at 13-8, but Altoona never let it get any closer as they won the third and final set, 25-15.
The Cougars are back in action tomorrow at the Anderson Center in the second day of the Cougar Kickoff Classic when the face Hiram at 11:00 and the College of St. Elizabeth at 3:00.
