DALLAS, Pa. - The Drew University men's volleyball team made its debut as a varsity sport on Saturday, competing in a pair of matches at the Misericordia University Cougar Kickoff Classic.
In their inaugural match, the Rangers nearly rallied to force a fifth set, but lost by a final of 3-1 to Wilkes University. After the Colonels captured the opening two sets by scores of 25-23 and 25-21, the Rangers took the third set 25-21 before Wilkes pulled out a nailbiter in the fourth, prevailing 27-25.
Drew then took on host Misericordia and lost a three-set match by scores of 25-17, 25-17, and 25-22.
Sophomore
Omarf Ortega-Reyes led the Rangers on the day with 24 kills and 19 digs while earning a spot on the all-tournament team. Freshman
Jacob Sledz posted 16 kills and 17 digs.
The Rangers found themselves in a back-and-forth affair in the opening set. Wilkes led 22-21, but Drew came back to tie it twice, first on a kill from Ortega-Reyes that snapped a 4-0 Colonel run and tied it at 22-22. Sledz would later tie it with a kill that made it 23-all, but Wilkes went on to score the final two points.
The second set was also close, and it was tied 17-17 before Wilkes pulled away with a 7-2 surge.
Drew was outscored 9-5 to start the third period but rallied for the first set victory in team history. The Colonels led 19-18 before the Rangers closed on a 7-2 run, which included a kill from Ortega-Reyes and a block assist from Ortega-Reyes and freshman
Ephraim Smith.
Drew led most of the way in the fourth and twice served for set point, but Wilkes ended the match by scoring the final three points.
Sledz finished the match with 14 kills and 12 digs while Ortega-Reyes posted 14 kills, 11 digs, and three service aces. Freshman
Huriel Perez distributed 38 assists.
Versus Misericordia, the Rangers were tied 13-13 in the opening set before the Cougars took control with a 7-0 run. Drew continued to battle in the second set and trailed just 18-16 before the hosts scored six unanswered points. Misericordia appeared to be pulling away again in the third after a 7-0 run made it 24-19, but the Rangers refused to go away and scored the next three points before the Cougars finally put the match away.
Ortega-Reyes led the Ranges with 10 kills and eight digs against Misericordia while Perez handed out another 14 assists.
The Rangers continue their season on Sunday, when they visit King's College in a non-conference match-up starting at noon.
