WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes University men's volleyball senior Zach Shay (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) eclipsed 2,000 career assists as the Colonels defeated Eastern University at the Marts Center Thursday night to remain undefeated on their home court. Wilkes won 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18).

 The Colonels improve to 10-2 on the year while the Eagles fall to 5-6 overall.

After losing a back and forth first set, the Colonel offense came alive in the second set. Down 11-10, Wilkes put together a 10-3 run to take a 20-14 lead highlighted by three kills from Shay. Eastern fought back to make it a close set, but Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) was able to finish off the second set and even the game at 1-1.

Wilkes carried their momentum into the next set, taking an early 7-4 lead. The Eagles stayed close to the Colonels throughout the set, bringing the score within a point 17-18. Wilkes put the set away with a 7-1 run with two blocks from Paul Binner (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock) and Noah Taylor (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional) sending the Marts Center into a frenzy as the Colonels took the set and the lead 2-1.

Wilkes' offense continued to soar as they took a 6-2 lead early in the fourth set, before exploding on a 7-3 run to take a 12-4 lead punctuated by two service aces by Shafer. An 8-2 Eastern run brought the Eagles back into the set down 12-14, but the Colonels responded with a 7-2 run of their own to grow the lead back to 21-14. Two kills from Shafer and two Eagle errors gave the Colonels the fourth and final set needed to take victory.

Shafer led the Colonels with 17 kills and three aces. Shay led in assists with 33 on the way to his milestone 2,000^th assist, and also led the team in digs with 11.

Symir Byrd led Eastern in kills with 11, while Chris Miller led with 21 assists and Lucas Adam topped the defensive efforts with 12 digs.

The Colonels get a well-earned break before hitting the road to take on Lancaster Bible College in their next contest on Wednesday, February 21^st at 7:00 p.m.