READING, PA – The Wilkes University men's volleyball team opened with a win in the first set only to see host Alvernia University sweep the next three sets on way to a 3-1 victory over the Colonels Tuesday night.
 
Wilkes fell to 5-6 overall following the four-set defeat while Alvernia improved to 8-4 on the season.
 
Wilkes opened with a thrilling 26-22 win in the first set thanks to kills by John Pietrzyk (Glen Lyon, Pa./Nanticoke) and Dylan Smith (York, Pa./Dallastown) to wrap up the set. Alvernia answered with a 25-22 in set two and a 25-15 victory in set three to take a 2-1 advantage heading into the fourth set. There, the Crusaders took an 18-15 lead before Wilkes stormed back to tie the match at 20 following another Pietrzyk kill. The teams continued to trade points until the Colonels opened a 25-24 lead after a Crusaders attack error. From there Alvernia rattled off three straight points to seal the set and the match 27-25.
 
Pietrzyk led all Wilkes hitters with a season-high 16 kills and seven digs. Thomas Bogarowski (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) added 13 kills and seven digs. Smith contributed five kills and 11 digs while Daniel Sales (Laflin, Pa./James M. Coughlin) assisted on 37 of the 43 Wilkes kills.
 
Wilkes continues its road stretch this weekend when the Colonels travel to Utica, N.Y. to compete in a tournament hosted by SUNY Poly. Wilkes faces the host SUNY Poly Friday at 5:00 p.m. before matches with Arcadia (11:00 a.m.) and Elmira (3:00 p.m.) on Saturday.