Inspired Performance for MVB, but Park Edges WPU
Parkville, Mo. — Hope was given to William Penn men’s volleyball after they were let into the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament after Graceland, unfortunately, could not compete. Taking on Park for the third time this season, the Statesmen gave a great battle to the Pirates but could not come up with enough points at the end of the day. Dropping in straight sets 25-22, 25-14, and 25-22, WPU will end the year with a record of 10-17 overall.
The first set was an offensive explosion by both sides, as the two teams combined for four total errors. Quickly going up 3-0 on kills from Eli Herro (So., Dousman, Wis., Business Management) and Ike Papes (So., Elwood, Ill, Business Management), the Pirates climbed back into the frame to tie things at 5-5. With points put down by each side, the score was soon tied 7-7.
Charlie Figy (Fr., Appleton, Wis., Sports Management) helped put the Statesmen ahead by two, but Park rebounded once again. Tied through most of the set, the drama increased as the score remained even at 21-21. Despite the great hitting, the Statesmen then hit as wall as Park pulled ahead by two. Taking a timeout, an attack error put the Pirates on the verge of victory, though CJ Rettig (So., Sierra Madre, Calif., Physical Education) then put down a kill to keep the Statesmen alive. However, the Pirates won on a kill on the next rally, taking set one 25-22. WPU hit .433 in the first, with 15 kills and two errors, while Park had 19 kills and two errors for an attack percentage of .586.
The second game stated even again, as the game was tied 3-3 after some errors by each squad. But things quickly got out of hand after that, as Park blitzed their way to a 15-8 lead. Anthony Torres (Fr., Aurora, Ill., Computer Science) helped William Penn get to double-digits but not much else could be found, as the Pirates stormed to a 25-14 victory in set two. WPU had six kills and three errors in the frame.
With the season on the line, the Statesmen threw everything at the Pirates. Papes and Torres kept the team ahead before Figy struck for a great kill to put the navy and gold ahead 5-2. Park called a timeout to hit the reset button and it worked, as the Pirates soon were ahead 8-6. With some errors by the hosts, WPU remained close, never letting the Pirates escape by more than a few points. Figy blasted another kill to make it 18-17 but Park responded with three-straight points.
Connor Muff (Jr., Kenosha, Wis., Business Management) answered with a successful dump and an ace by Figy got the Statesmen back on the bumper of the Pirates. Herro would make a terrific kill to make it 22-21 Parkm but the hosts scored on the next rally. Feeding the hot hand, Herro would burry another ball to make it 23-22, yet that was all the team could muster. Calling a timeout trailing 24-22, WPU could not stave off elimination, as the Pirates took the final set 25-22.
William Penn hit .250 in the game, with 30 kills and 12 errors in 72 total attempts. The lineup posted two aces and collected three solo blocks in addition to 15 digs. Papes once again led the way, posting 13 kills with two errors in 27 attempts. Torres had seven kills with two errors in 13 total attempts, while Figy, Herro, and Rettig each had three kills. Muff had 24 assists, while Carlos Garcia (So., Laredo, Texas, Biology) had a team-high five digs.
“What an end to our year,” said Head Coach Luke Bentley. “To be able to get another match in, let alone in the conference tournament, is pretty special. Proud of our effort today. The guys played probably our best volleyball to date, especially in sets one and three. There are big things ahead for next year.”
