Franklin Springs, GA- The Emmanuel Men's Volleyball team hosted Truett McConnell University today in non-conference action. The Lions jumped out ahead early, taking the first set 25-20, but the Bears responded well to win the next two, 28-26, 25-23. The Lions answered, winning the final two sets, 25-15,15-9 to earn the 3-2 win. With the win, the Lions move to 7-10 on the season.

The Lions jumped out ahead 5-2 in first set on kills by Aidan Feeney, Elek Cumming and Luke Wilson. The Bears responded to tie the set at 7-7. The Lions responded to go up 13-10, but TMU answered to tie the set at 13-13. The teams traded points and the lead until late in the set when the Lions went on a 6-0 run made up of kills by Greg Bodus, Wilson, and Cumming to put the Lions up 22-18. The Lions closed the set strong to earn the 25-20 win.

In set two, TMU jumped ahead 10-5. The Lions responded well with three-consecutive kills by Thijs Van der Wal pulling the Lions within three points of the lead, 16-13. With the Bears up 20-15 late, the Lions used a 5-0 run made up of kills by Feeney and an ace by Bodus to tie the set at 20. The teams traded points until late when the Bears scored the final two points to earn the 28-26 set two win.

In set three, the Lions jumped out ahead 7-4 on kills by Bryan Povea, Bodus, Bataille, and Van der Wal. The Bears cut the Lions lead to 11-10, but Emmanuel responded to pull ahead 14-10 on a kill by Povea and attack errors by Truett McConnell. With the Lions up 17-12 late in the set, Truett McConnell responded to tie the set at 23-23. The Bears would go onto score the final two points to take the set, 25-23.

The Lions bounced back in set four. The teams traded points early, but the Lions pulled ahead 11-8 on a kill by Feeney and attack errors by the Bears. Midway through the set, a 5-0 run for the Lions made up of kills by Feeney and Bataille put the Lions up 19-12. The Lions closed out the set strong with kills by Feeney, Van der Wal and Caleb Mears to take set four, 25-15.

In the fifth set, the Lions took an early 5-2 lead on kills by Bataille, Feeney and Mears. The Lions would push ahead 9-5 midway through the set and would use kills by Feeney and Van der Wal to close the set strong, 15-9 to earn the 3-2 win.

Overall, the Lions had 63 kills, 4 aces, 15 blocks, 55 assists, and 47 digs. 

Aidan Feeney led the team in kills with 22, with Thijs Van der Wal adding 13 and Matthieu Bataille contributing 10. Bataille led the team in blocks with 9, with Greg Bodus adding 43 assists. Josh Staehler had 13 digs on the afternoon, with Greg Bodus picking up 11.
Next up, the Lions will host King on Friday at 7PM. 

For more information on Emmanuel University Athletics visit goeulions.com.