GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball faced Thiel (Pa.) College in a non-conference match inside Beeghly Gymnasium. After a comeback win in set one, the Yellow Jackets (9-2) rallied to earn statement wins over the Tomcats (4-7) in set two and three. BW won the match by final set scores of 28-26, 25-19, and 25-16.
BW was led by All-Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby) as he tallied a match-high 13 kills and added seven digs. Junior outside hitter Nick Reilman (Medina/Walsh Jesuit) notched a career-high 15 digs and posted six kills and two aces.
1st Set
- After being down at 14-10 and again at 19-12, the Yellow Jackets rally to go on an 8-2 run, closing the gap to just one point (21-20 Thiel)
- Beard tools the block on the left pin, knotting the game up at 24-24
- BW earned the advantage point (26-25) with a block by sophomore right side hitter Michael Devlin (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) and freshman middle hitter Josh Steinitz (Towson, Md./Friends School of Baltimore), forcing Thiel to its second timeout
- Out of the break, a block by Devlin sealed the deal on set one as the Yellow Jackets claimed the come-from-behind win (28-26)
2nd Set
- A block by Steinitz put the Yellow Jackets up 9-2 to start set two
- After being down ten points, the Tomcats rallied to outscore the Yellow Jackets 11-3 and close the gap to just two points (18-16 BW)
- The Yellow Jackets tallied three straight points out of their timeout with two kills by Beard and an ace from Steinitz, earning the Yellow Jackets a 21-16 advantage
- A kill from junior middle hitter Chris Moehl (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino) earned the set two win, 25-19
- BW hit .385 as a team in set two, totaling 13 kills
3rd Set
- A big block by Devlin and Moehl earned the 12-6 advantage for the Yellow Jackets to begin the third set
- BW extended the lead to eight points with a kill from Steinitz (18-10)
- Junior setter Brandon Long (Hinckley/Metea Valley, Ill.) tooled the block on an overpass to put the Yellow Jackets within reach of the win at 22-15
- A kill by Beard on the right pin finished the set (25-16) and the match (3-0)
The Yellow Jackets return to the hardwood on Saturday, February 4 as they host Concordia University Chicago and Medaille (N.Y.) University for a non-conference tri-match. BW will face Concordia-Chicago at 1:00 p.m. and will take on the Mavericks at 5:00 p.m. in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center.