Mechanicsburg, Pa. – The No. 6 Stevens Institute of Technology men's volleyball team defeated No. 7 Messiah University 3-1 in Middle Atlantic Conference action on Wednesday night.
 
The Ducks (19-4, 5-0 MAC) took down Messiah (19-2, 4-1 MAC) with set scores of 25-23, 25-19, 21-25, and 25-15.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stevens fell behind 2-0 in the opening set before a service error and a kill from Joshua Levandoske leveled the score. Three consecutive points, including a solo block from Alex Olcott, pushed the Ducks ahead 9-7. A Levandoske kill later extended the lead to 16-13. The Falcons trimmed the deficit to one late in the frame, but a service error handed the opening set to Stevens.
 
The Ducks raced out to an early lead in set two, tallying eight of the first 11 points. Koby Sherman registered two kills, while the duo of Tyler Hoke and Sebastian Huyke combined for a pair of double blocks during the run. The Falcons struggled to get closer than six for most of the set but managed to claw within five at 22-17 after scoring four of seven points late. A Levandoske kill brought up set point, and a Huyke kill secured the second set.
 
The third set was tightly contested, featuring eight ties in the first 20 points, with neither team leading by more than two. A 5-1 spurt by Messiah forced Stevens into a timeout. The Ducks responded by scoring four of the next five points, highlighted by an ace and two kills from Sherman. Trailing 21-18, Stevens capitalized on two unforced errors by the Falcons to pull within one. However, Messiah closed the set by winning four of the final five points, forcing a fourth frame.
 
Stevens dominated the fourth set, jumping out to a 10-2 lead, punctuated by a pair of kills from Sherman. An Olcott kill extended the advantage to double digits at 16-6, and Messiah never got closer than eight the rest of the way. After the Falcons fended off two match points, Olcott put down a Huyke set to clinch the victory for Stevens.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Sherman's 22 kills were one shy of his season high, as the senior hit .541 (22-2-37).
• Olcott recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 kills and 11 digs.
• Huyke dished out 41 assists while adding seven digs and three blocks.
• Jesse Knuckles led the defense with 13 digs. 

UP NEXT
The Ducks return to Pennsylvania tomorrow, traveling to St. Davids to take on Eastern University at 7 p.m.