JACKSONVILLE, FL - The men's volleyball team played their second match of the 2022 season on Saturday afternoon as they faced Edward Waters University. The Lions defeated the Tigers in five sets, 3-2, moving Emmanuel's record to 2-0.
The Lions took control of the opening set from first serve, sprinting to a 17-10 lead. The Tigers were unable to respond as Emmanuel went on to take the set by nine points, 25-16. However, the second set was a different story. This time the Tigers captured the early momentum, building an early lead, 9-6. The Lions answered with a five point run, but their advantage was short lived. With the score tied at 21, the Tigers finished the set on a 4-1 run, tying the match score at 1-1.
EWU rolled into the third set with five unanswered points before leading 9-3 in the early going. The Lions inched their way back until a four point run gave them their first lead of the set, 20-19. Emmanuel increased their lead, 22-20, but four straight for the Tigers got them to set point. The Lions proceeded to tie it at 24, but two more points for EWU won them the game, 26-24, and put them one up in the match, 2-1.
The fourth set was tied 8-8, but a kill from sophomore Eli Zdonik gave the Lions a lead that they never gave up. A 25-21 victory in the set forced a tiebreaker. EWU took control early in the fifth, sprinting to an 8-3 advantage that positioned them to claim the match. However, Emmanuel stared the deficit in the face and climbed right out of it, entering a 7-2 stretch that squared things at 10 points each. The Lions kept fighting until they found themselves at match point, 14-12. They gave a kill to the Tigers, but Zdonik followed it with a kill of his own that won the set for the Lions, 15-13, and the match, 3-2.
Eli Zdonek led the way for the Lions, recording 13 kills, 8 digs, and 2 blocks. Junior Jayden Young followed with 10 kills, 2 digs, and a block.
Next up, men's volleyball will face Reinhardt University on Sunday, January 30 at 9:00am.
For more on Emmanuel College athletics, visit goeclions.com.