Defense Helps Lions Drop Hilbert

ERIE, Pa. – Ty Sheehan (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) posted nine kills, three blocks and two aces to lead Penn State Behrend past Hilbert 3-0 in United Volleyball Conference (UVC) action on Thursday evening in the Junker Center.

Nathan Steele (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) led with 11 kills and a .500 hitting percentage to help the Lions (11-11, 4-7 UVC) remain undefeated against the Hawks and set a new program record for most wins in a season with a 25-19, 25-14, and 25-23 victory.

Hilbert's Adam Weaver had a game-high 13 kills along with six digs and two blocks.

After winning the first set 25-19, Behrend rolled out to a 16-6 lead in the second. Sheehan recorded both aces in this game on back-to-back points to take the 10-point lead. Grant Kocher (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) had an ace and Eric Theiss (Plum, PA/Plum) recorded two service aces in a row for a 23-11 advantage.

The Lions had three chances to win the set and eventually did on a Hilbert service error.

As a team, Behrend posted 10.5 blocks for the match including three in the final points of the third game. Josh Oertly (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) came up big at the net with a pair of blocks, giving the Lions the lead at 20-19 and then helping them come back to knot  the set at 21-all.

The Hawks took a two-point lead at 23-21, but a kill by each Kocher and Sheehan tied the game for the 16^th time. After a Hilbert timeout, Sheehan, Tyler Karl (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) and Theiss were all up for a block that stopped Weaver and gave match point to the Lions. A service ace by Korey Schwab sealed the victory for Behrend.

Evan Fullerton (Ambridge, PA/Ambridge) and Colin Ingram (Hilliard, OH/Hilliard Darby) combined for 33 assists on 39 kills. Ingram had one more with 17, while Fullerton collected 16 assists.  Joey Price (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) and Fullerton tied for the most digs with six.

The Lions return to action this weekend for the Behrend Invitational, facing Thiel on Saturday at 12 p.m.