UNION, N.J. – For the second consecutive day, the Wilkes University men's volleyball team travelled to the Garden State for Continental Volleyball Conference competition, falling in straight sets to Kean University 23-25, 21-25, 17-25 at Harwood Arena.

Wilkes falls to 8-17 on the year and 0-4 in CVC play, while Kean improves to 11-8 overall and 2-2 against conference opponents.

Ryan McCorry (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands) took the first point of the day for the Colonels with a service ace, but the hosts took the early lead in the first set and held off multiple rallies by the Colonels to take the 23-25 victory. Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) led Wilkes with five kills in the set.

Kean took an early lead in the second set 6-3, but the Colonels fought back with a 9-7 run to close the lead to one with three kills from Shafer. The Cougars pushed their lead to 19-14, but Wilkes once again fought back to a 19-17 deficit. Two late attack errors by the Colonels unfortunately sealed the set for Kean 25-21.

The hosts took a 6-1 lead to start the final set that proved to be too much for the Colonels to overcome, as the Cougars took the set and the win 25-17. Aidan Hunter (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) and Aaron Ladd (Souderton, PA/Pennridge) each contributed two kills in the set.

Shafer led the Colonels with 11 kills followed by Hunter and Ladd with eight. Joshua Conley (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks South) dished out a team-high 19 assists while James Brust (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) added 12. Conley also led the team with eight digs, sharing the team-high with Alex Derk (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge). Jacob Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central) added three blocks on the defensive end.

Aidan Flinn led Kean with 11 kills. David Flores led the team with 34 assists, while Tyler Quinn led the defensive efforts with 10 digs.

The Colonels take to the court again on Thursday, March 20 as they travel to face Lancaster Bible College at 7:00 p.m.