BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Medaille College men's volleyball team returned to action today for a conference double header at the Sullivan Center. The Mavs took down the Saint Vincent Bearcats in three straight sets (25-21, 25-20, 26-24). Medaille battled with Thiel College for their second match, but lost in three sets (15-25, 24-26, 12-25).
Game 1
The Mavs took the first point of the game from a kill by
Matt Dickerson (Lockport, NY, Starpoint). The Mavs did well blocking with
Brandon Smith (Lancaster, NY, Lancaster) grabbing an early solo block, and
Kevin Cashdollar (Clarence, NY, Clarence HS) teamed up with
George Muriel (Hamburg, NY, Hamburg) for another. A few hitting errors from Medaille helped the Bearcats jump ahead 11-7. Cashdollar brought the Mavs back in the game connecting with Dickerson, Smith, and
Malachi Jackson (Cheektowaga, NY, Cheektowaga) to start a scoring frenzy. Dickerson added an ace while Jackson put up two more kills to tie the score at 20. Medaille would go on to win five more points highlighted by a solo block from Cashdollar to seal a 25-21 victory.
The Mavs were hitting efficiently in the second set with 11 kills on 21 swings and four errors (.333). Jackson grabbed an ace and
Tyler Hassell (Angola, NY, Lake Shore) did well scoring from the middle. Cashdollar also grabbed another ace but the Bearcats kept it close, up 14-13. Dickerson ended their streak with a big kill that helped fuel back-to-back aces from Jackson. Hassell's blocking kept the momentum rolling for Medaille. With the Mavs up 24-20, Cashdollar ended the set with another kill to give Medaille the 25-20 set win.
The third set was very close as the Bearcats jumped out to a 5-1 lead. The Mavs marched back as
Gay Doh Htoo (Rochester, NY, World of Inquiry High School) scored from the service line. Smith added a kill while Jackson put down three of his own. Hassell and Dickerson combined for another block and two more kills from Jackson put the Mavs up 20-18. The teams traded points but another block from Muriel and Smith put Medaille out front 24-22. Smith recorded a clutch kill and a ball handling error gave Medaille the 26-24 win.
Jackson led the Mavs recording a double-double with 14 kills (.321), 12 digs, and three aces. Dickerson also had a double-double with ten kills (.214), 11 digs, and three blocks. Cashdollar had 30 assists, one ace, and two blocks. Smith had six kills (.214) with three blocks.
Joshua Shiflet Jr. (Mechanicsville, VA, Lee-Davis) took care of the primary passing duties while adding six digs. Hassell and Muriel also recorded three blocks.
Game 2
Dickerson started the first set against Thiel reaching two kills early. Muriel's first kill of the set got Medaille a 4-3 lead until the Tomcats ripped off ten of the next 11 points. Dickerson's kill temporarily ended their run as they bounced back fast. With Thiel leading 19-9, the Mavs found some life with big blocks from Smith, Dickerson, and Muriel. Muriel added another kill but the Tomcats took it from there winning 25-15.
The Mavs refused to back down in the second set. Despite trailing 1-5, an ace from Dickerson, and three straight kills from Jackson tied the score up at seven. Jackson was unstoppable as Cashdollar added support with an ace. Smith continued to block well in the middle and Cashdollar's solo block kept the momentum on Medaille's side. Dickerson's ace put the Mavs ahead 20-17 but the Tomcats battled back tying the score at 23. Another kill from Dickerson gave the Mavs the edge, but three straight points from Thiel gave them the 26-24 win.
Thiel took total control of the third set with ten team kills on 19 swings with one hitting error (.474). Their fast offense helped propel them to a 14-3 lead. Dickerson and Jackson were able to find a way to score but the Tomcats were strong at the net and service line. Cashdollar connected with Smith for a kill late in the set but the Tomcats ended the set with a 25-12 win.
Dickerson led offensively for the Mavs with 13 kills (.250) while adding two aces and one block. Smith led defensively at the net with four blocks while Jackson added six kills and five digs. Cashdollar finished with 20 assists, one ace, and two blocks. Muriel added four kills and two blocks.
The Mavs will take some time off before heading to Greenville, P.A. for a tri-match on Saturday, March 19. Medaille will face Penn State Altoona at 2:30 p.m. and Thiel College at 5:00 p.m.
