WILKES-BARRE – Visiting No. 20 Misericordia University posted a 3-0 sweep of the Wilkes University men's volleyball team Tuesday night inside the Marts Center in non-conference action. The Cougars took the match in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-19.
 
Wilkes fell to 5-12 overall following the home defeat while Misericordia improved to 13-7 overall on the season.
 
In the first set, Misericordia jumped out to a six point lead before the Colonels fought back cutting the deficit to 9-8 after kills from Joshua Conley (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks South) and Aaron Ladd (Souderton, PA/Pennridge). Wilkes kept things close until the Cougars used a 4-0 spurt to take a 19-13 lead following a Colonel service miscue. Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) added a kill late but Misericordia used another Wilkes service error and Jared Piontkowski kill to take the first set by seven points.
 
Wilkes began the second set on the attack taking a 5-2 lead after an Aidan Hunter (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) kill. Lucas Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central) added a kill and a Misericordia service error kept the Colonels ahead 9-8. Misericordia took the lead midway through the set and never trailed the rest of the way to secure the 25-22 victory. Two Shafer kills and a service error by the Cougars pulled Wilkes to within one at 20-19, but Misericordia answered back with four straight points to hold on for the win to go up 2-0 in the match.
 
In set three after a Shafer kill tied the score at 2-2, Misericordia took a four point lead and never looked back never trailing the rest of the way.
 
Shafer led the way offensively with a team-high 15 kills and three digs. Conley topped the passing game with 23 assists.
 
Piontkowski paced the Cougars with a match-high 16 kills and three service aces.
 
Wilkes remains home hosting its final tri-match of the season when the Colonels welcome Bard College at 11:00 a.m. and Mount Aloysius College at 3:00 p.m. on Senior Day.