ANGOLA, Ind. – The Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball team faced the Trine University Thunder in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League regular season finale. The Yellow Jackets (8-17, 3-4 MCVL) fell to the Thunder (10-12, 2-3 MCVL) in three sets by 25-22, 25-18, and 25-22 scores.
BW was led by sophomore All-MCVL outside hitter Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby) as he tallied a team-high 10 kills and added seven digs. Sophomore right side hitter Nick Mazzone (Springboro/Bishop Fenwick) tallies nine kills, seven digs, and three blocks. Sophomore setter Brandon Long (Hinkley/Metea Valley, Ill.) dished out 30 assists and added six digs.
1st Set
- It was a lot of back-and-forth play, with both teams finding themselves tied late 20-20
- Back-to-back points for the Thunder forced BW to its first timeout of the set
- The Yellow Jackets took their second timeout of the game with the score 24-21 Trine
- The teams traded points as the Thunder went on to claim the set one victory by a 25-22 score
2nd Set
- Trine got out to the 10-7 lead to start the second
- BW took its first timeout, down 15-12
- The Thunder went on a 7-2 run to make the score 22-14 late in the set
- Despite Beard notching three big kills late in the game, Trine won set two 25-18
3rd Set
- BW started the game down 6-1, calling its first timeout
- The Yellow Jackets called their second timeout down 15-9
- A big block by freshman middle hitter Carson Junker (Massillon/Jackson) closed the Thunder gap to just three points late (19-16 Trine)
- Down 24-20 late, BW grabbed two points on Trine hitting errors to make it 24-22
- The Thunder went on to win the set (25-22) and match (3-0) win
In conclusion of its second season as a program, BW earned an MCVL Defensive Player of the Week award winner in Beard this year along with several career-highs for BW. The Yellow Jackets conclude the year with an overall record of 8-17 and a 3-4 MCVL record in their second season.
