WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes men's volleyball team turned a four-match losing streak into a three-match win streak with two more wins over Neumann University and Bryn Athyn College in straight sets, as they celebrated Senior Day at the Marts Center on Saturday.

With the sweep, the Colonels improve to 16-8 on the year.

Wilkes defeated Neumann in straight sets by scores of 25-15, 25-23, and 25-17. Down 4-3, Wilkes took control of the first set with a 5-0 run to take an 8-4 lead. Jacob Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central) had two kills on the run. The Knights kept the set close, but with the score 13-10 in favor of the Colonels, Wilkes went on to outscore Neumann 12-5 to close out the set with a victory.

Wilkes kept the momentum rolling into the second set with an early 8-5 lead, but Neumann equalized with a 3-0 run. Two kills by Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) helped the Colonels on a 5-2 scoring run to make the set 13-10, but Neumann would once again close the gap with a Wilkes service error and a service ace to make it 13-12. The teams traded blows like heavyweight boxers for the rest of the set, but Wilkes came out on top thanks to a decisive kill by Paul Binner (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock).

Wilkes opened the third set with a 4-1 run, but the Knights claimed the lead on a 5-0 run to make it a 6-4 game. The Colonels fired back with an 8-0 rally to take a commanding 12-6 lead that they wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the match. Binner served all eight points, including two aces, while Shafer added two blocks on the run. Neumann wouldn't go down without a fight, coming back to make the set 21-17, but a 4-0 Colonel rally gave Wilkes their first win of the day.

Shafer led the team in both kills and blocks, with 15 and five respectively, and two aces to boot. Zach Shay (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) led the team in assists with 38, while Alex Derk (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) led the defense with eight digs.

Trey Edmonds led Neumann with 14 kills, Dan Barckholtz led the team with 25 assists, and Christian Johnson led the defense with eight digs.

Wilkes also took a decisive three-set victory over Bryn Athyn by scores of 25-6, 25-11, and 25-14. The Colonels opened the first set with a 6-0 run, including a service ace for Shay. After two points for the Lions, Wilkes kept their foot on the gas and hit another 7-0 rally to take a 13-2 lead they would comfortably hold for the rest of the set.

The navy and gold opened the second set strong once again, taking a 5-1 lead with two Mages service aces. Wilkes once again held the comfortable lead to a 25-11 set victory, finishing on a 3-0 run with two service aces for James Brust (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights).

Landon Hinton (Manchester, NJ/Manchester Township) opened the third set joining the ace party with four as a part of an 8-0 run that set the Colonels up for victory, taking the 25-14 set victory. With the score 20-12, Wilkes outscored Bryn Athyn 5-2 to take the set and match victory, with kills from Brust, Lucas Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central), and Aidan Hunter (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson).

Shay and Shafer shared the team high in kills with seven each, as the team rotated the seniors around from their usual positions. Hinton and Shafer both ended the match with four service aces, while Hinton shared the assist crown with Brust at nine each. Taylor led the defensive efforts with eight digs.

Blake Halterman led Bryn Athyn with seven kills, Laban Genzlinger had the most assists with 11, and Teagan Dewees led the defense with seven digs.

Before the match against the Lions, Wilkes celebrated the four senior men's volleyball student-athletes Binner, Shay, Taylor, and Shafer as a part of the senior day festivities.

The Colonels get a well-earned rest before hitting the road for their next contests, a tri-match at Wells College against the Express and Carlow University on Saturday, March 30^th at 2:00 p.m.