CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (March 9, 2018) – The Webber International University men's volleyball team split its first two matches at the Campbellsville Spring Invitational as it snapped it's eight-game losing skid. The Warriors defeated Trinity Christian College (Ill.) in a tight match by a score of 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20) and then Webber lost 3-2 in a battle with Lawrence Tech (Mich.) where it came back from a two-set deficit to just fall short by three points in the final set (25-23, 25-16, 15-25, 16-25, 15-12).
The Warriors took down Trinity Christian in a very competitive four sets with the furthest margin being decided by only five points.
A pivotal moment in the match came in the third set as the teams were tied at one set apiece and the Warriors trailed the Trolls 21-19. The Warriors outscored the Trolls 6-2 to take the set 25-23 with four kills and a block assist coming from freshman
Liam Gilchrist in that span.
Offensively, Gilchrist led the way with 14 kills with
Justin Beecher and
Christian Alvarez-Rivero both contributing seven kills apiece.
Beecher, playing as a setter for the first time in his college career, collected 20 assists with
Tim Rouch Jr. adding 10 assists of his own.
Defensively,
Jack Chernak led the team with six blocks with Beecher adding four and
Cesar Remedios also adding three.
Trevor Johns led both teams in digs with 13, and both Gilchrist and
Zachary Ayala added seven digs each.
In match two, the Warriors came so close to achieving the comeback but just could not hold off Lawrence Tech in the final set.
Going into the fifth set, the Warriors used their momentum from the previous two sets to take a 12-9 lead, needing just three more points to secure the win, but the Blue Devils proceeded to go on a heartbreaking 6-0 run to steal the match.
Ayala had a very impressive match, getting a double-double with 10 kills and 10 blocks.
Adding to the Ayala's 10 blocks were Chernak with eight blocks and Remedios with seven blocks.
Other notable stats were Beecher's 27 assists and Johns' three aces.
Webber's record is now 3-9 overall.
Webber will finish the invitational at Campbellsville on Saturday, March 9, against Southeast Athletic Conference opponent Campbellsville University at 9 a.m., followed directly by Morningside College at 11 a.m.
