GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Drew University men's volleyball team gave nationally-ranked Messiah University a battle, but the Falcons prevailed 3-0 in Drew's second match in as many days to the start the season on Saturday.
Messiah, which reach the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championships last season, came into the match ranked 14th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III poll.
The Falcons, who were playing their season opener, won by scores of 25-19, 28-26, and 25-21.
Junior
C.J. Addeo paced the Rangers (1-1) with five kills while junior
Jacob Sledz posted four kills, six digs, and a pair of aces. Sophomore
Andrew DuHaime also talled four kills, and senior
Omarf Ortega-Reyes dished out 13 assists. Junoir
Huriel Perez recorded seven assists and two aces, and classmate
Bryan Do notched five digs.
Ryan Givens and Jacob Hamm collected eight kills apiece for Messiah.
In the opening set, Messiah raced out to a 6-1 lead, but the Rangers came back to tie it at 13-all. The Falcons extended their lead to seven, but Drew refused to go away, scoring three straight points, capped by a DuHaime ace and a kill from junior
Ephraim Smith to make it 22-18. But Messiah scored three of the last four points.
The second set was an extremely close affair in which neither side led by more than three. That largest lead happened to belong to the Rangers, who scored four straight points to assume a 21-18 advantage. Sledz kicked off the rally with a kill before Perez capped it with his two aces.
Messiah answered with a 6-2 run, but the Rangers again would not go away, staving off set point on three occasions on one kill from Ortega-Reyes and two from DuHaime. But with the scored tied 26-26, the Falcons scored the last two points to win it.
The Falcons outscored the Rangers 12-7 to start the third set and eventually led 23-15. But Drew fought back once again, reeling off a 5-0 run to draw to within three. But Messiah scored two of the last three points to end the match.
The Rangers pick up their schedule on Wednesday, when they visit John Jay College at 7 p.m.
