WILKES-BARRE – Jones Mensah (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) tied a career-high in both kills (13) and blocks (4) as host Wilkes University was defeated in straight sets 3-0 against conference-leader Stevenson University Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes dropped to 6-17 overall and 2-6 in MAC Freedom matches with four more conference tilts left on the schedule. Stevenson remained unbeaten in league play at 8-0 and improved to 16-8 overall on the year following the road victory.
 
Stevenson jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first set thanks to a service rally from Landon Shorts including three aces. Wilkes battled to cut the deficit to eight down 14-6 following a kill from Mensah off a Daniel Sales (Laflin, Pa./James M. Coughlin) set. Stevenson answered with points in eight of the next ten serves on way to a 25-11 first set victory.
 
Stevenson led 7-4 early in the second set before using a 5-0 rally to extend the advantage to 12-4. A kill from Cole Hefner (East Greenville, Pa./Southern Lehigh) and subsequent Stevenson serving error brought the Colonels to within six trailing 13-7. Michael Henne (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) began a Wilkes rally serving later in the set as two kills from Mensah were followed by two Stevenson attack errors to pull the Colonels to within four down 17-13. The Mustangs answered back with three straight kills and two bad sets from Wilkes ended the hopes for a complete comeback as Stevenson took the second set 25-17.
 
Mensah kept things close early in the third set using a kill off a Sales set to cut the Stevenson lead to 7-5. Stevenson used an 8-2 run over the next ten points to take a 15-7 lead before another Wilkes rally made things interesting.  Henne began with a service ace followed by a kill from Mensah. After a Stevenson attack error, Dylan Smith (York, Pa./Dallastown) added a kill to bring Wilkes to within three trailing 18-15. Stevenson answered the call yet again going on an 8-0 run to seal the set and the match.
 
Mensah matched career-highs with 13 kills and four total blocks including two solo stops.  Sales added four kills and 21 assists while Smith, Andrew Potter (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) and Hefner each contributed three kills.
 
Kyle Bosko led Stevenson with nine kills and Shorts followed behind with eight kills, nine service aces and six digs.
 
Wilkes returns to MAC Freedom play Tuesday traveling to Dallas, Pa. for a match with Misericordia University starting at 7:00 p.m.