WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes men's volleyball improved to a 6-6 record after sweeping Penn State Altoona and Cairn University at their senior day tri-match Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.

The Nittany Lions fell to a 2-7 overall record while Cairn fell to 2-11 overall following the match.

Game 1: Wilkes 3, PSU - Altoona 1

In the opening match of the day, Wilkes and Penn State traded points early before a 7-1 run by the Nittany Lions created separation at 15-10. The Colonels battled to close the gap late but were unable to find an offensive rhythm, falling in the first set 25-22. Penn State held the advantage at the net, outhitting Wilkes .097 to .057 in the frame.

Set two unfolded much like the opener, with the Nittany Lions edging in front midway through at 13-11. Refusing to drop another set, the Colonels responded with a decisive 8-1 run to surge ahead 21-16, with several Wilkes attackers contributing kills during the stretch. Penn State rallied to pull within one late, but the Colonels held firm to close out a 25-23 victory.

With momentum on its side, Wilkes jumped out to an early 6-2 advantage before a 6-1 Penn State run evened the score at 10. The tie was short-lived, as the Colonels answered with a dominant 9-2 surge to ignite the offense once again. Wilkes pulled away from there to secure a 25-18 set victory, with Logan Maha (Sayville, NY/Sayville) making an impact at the net with two kills and a block.

In the final set of the match, the Colonels seized control midway through at 15-12 following a dominant block by Maha and Evanston Meyers and a kill from Carter Otto (Mountain View, CA/Mountain View). Wilkes maintained that advantage the rest of the way, closing out the set 25-21 to claim the match victory. Aiden Amon (Pittstown, NJ/North Hunterdon), Maha, and Otto delivered the final three points on kills to seal the win.

The Colonels dominated play at the net, out-blocking the Nittany Lions 10-4. Maha controlled the attack with a team-high 17 kills, a new season best, while adding four blocks. Otto followed closely with 12 kills. Joshua Conley (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks South) directed the offense with a team-leading 38 assists, and Alex Derk (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) anchored the back row with 13 digs.

Penn State's Jack McKenna led the Lion's offense with12 kills while Travis Johns recorded a team-high 11 assists, and Adam Chan held the defense down with 11 digs.

Game 2: Wilkes 3, Cairn 0
In the final match of the night, the Colonels dominated Cairn University, sweeping the Highlanders 25-23, 25-17, and 25-18. Wilkes held the advantage in every phase, outhitting Cairn .258 to .041 and out-blocking the Highlanders 8-5. Otto paced the attack with 14 kills, while Maha and Aaron Ladd (Souderton, PA/Pennridge) followed with eight and seven, respectively. The Colonels also received a spark off the bench, as Marcus Binner (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock) contributed four kills and Logan Berger (Bath, PA/Northampton) added one.

Defensively, Wilkes outdug Cairn 33-22, with Alex Derk (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) anchoring the back row with 10 digs. Joshua Conley (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks South) added nine digs of his own while directing the offense with a team-high 26 assists.

Sam Poirier of Cairn University had a double-double in the night leading in kills and digs with 12 and ten respectively. Josh Adler also led in two categories for the Highlanders, recording 14 assists and two blocks in the match.

Wilkes returns to action on Tuesday, February 10, as they travel up to Misericordia University as they take on the Cougars at 7:00 p.m.