MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University men's volleyball team played Wilkes University close in all three sets but the Colonels escaped with a 3-0 victory over the Rangers in Baldwin Gym Thursday evening.
 
Wilkes won by scores of 25-23, 25-22, 25-22.
 
It was the final home match of the season for the Rangers, who received nine kills and 16 digs from sophomore Jacob Sledz. Classmate Ephraim Smith also threw down nine kills while freshman Tynoah Ehia tallied eight kills, seven digs, and three aces. Sophomore Huriel Perez handed out 28 assists while sophomore Bryan Do scooped 10 digs.
 
Jackson Shafer paced Wilkes (17-10) with 13 kills and nine digs.
 
The Rangers trailed by as much as six midway through the first set before rallying with a 9-3 run to tie it at 18-all.  Drew would eventually take the lead when a kill from Ehia put the Rangers up 23-22. However, the Colonels would score the final three points of the set on two kills from Paul Binner and one from Shafer.
 
Ehia enjoyed a big first set, totaling five kills and a pair of aces.
 
The second set followed a similar script, as the Rangers trailed 14-9 in the early going. Wilkes still enjoyed a four-point lead (23-18) late in the set before Drew came storming back with a 4-1 run, sparked by a kill from Smith, to draw within two. However, Shafer ended the set with a kill.
 
Smith tallied four of his kills in the second set, when the Rangers hit 64%.
 
In the third set, Wilkes led most of the way once again, but the Rangers kept within striking distance and never trailed by more than five. The Colonels led 23-18 again but Drew also rallied again, scoring four straight to inch within a point. Sledz fired up an ace before Smith capped the run with a kill. The Colonels scored the final two points on a kill from Shafer and an ace from Binner.
 
The Rangers return to action on Saturday with a tri-match at Elizabethtown College. The Rangers face Kean University at 4 p.m. and Etown at 6 p.m.