Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Misericordia men's volleyball salvaged a split at Wilkes, falling to the host Colonels in four sets before sweeping the Cardinals of York College (NY), Wednesday evening.

The Cougars now sit at 6-7 on the year and drop to 0-3 in conference play.

In the victory over York, Ryan Miller led the team with nine kills followed by Bailey Brugler and Michael Trygar with six each. John Natiello had five aces and Brugler finished with 28 assists.

The Cougars raced out to an early lead, doubling up York, 10-5, after a kill by Caleb Bauder. Misericordia continued to separate themselves, getting two kills by Miller and one each from Matt Lavin, Kaden Abreu and Trygar to take a 17-7 lead. An ace by Natiello gave the first set to MU, 25-12.

With the second set tied at 11, the Cougars went on an 8-1 run, getting four aces from Natiello and two more from Lavin.

In the third set, two kills each by Miller and Brugler gave Misericordia an early 6-2 lead. A 9-3 run by the Cougars gave the Cougars a 10-point lead they would not relinquish, eventually winning the set 25-12 on an ace by Brugler.

Earlier in the day, the Cougars fell to Wilkes in four sets. Miller hit .389, leading the team with 28 kills. Bauder chipped in 11 kills and Brugler had 44 assists.

Wilkes scored the first three points of the match, but the Cougars fought back to take a 6-5 lead on a kill by Miller.

Down 16-14, Misericordia went on a 4-0 run, tying the set on a kill by Bauder and taking the lead on back-to-back errors by the Colonels. On set point, a kill by Miller gave the Cougars the first set, 25-22.

The second set was tight early on, as the score was tied eight times in the first 20 points. With Misericordia up 19-17, Wilkes ended on an 8-3 run to take the second set, 25-22.

Wilkes jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the second set, but the Cougars stormed back with a 6-0 run, getting three kills and a block by Miller, to get within one. Down 24-20, Misericordia saved four set points, getting the score even on a block by Abreu and Trygar. However, the Colonels took the next two points and the set.

In the fourth set, the Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but that was the biggest advantage a team would have until Wilkes went up three at 19-16. Down 23-18, Misericordia went on a 4-0 run, culminating with a kill by Brugler and a block by Miller and Brugler. At 24-22, Miller got a kill to pull within one, but the Colonels took the set and match on the next point.