Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Men's Volleyball team hosted Fort Valley State today in non-conference action. The Wildcats took the first two sets, 25-19, 25-16 but the Lions responded well to win set three, 26-24. The Wildcats closed out the game with a 25-20 win in set four to take the game, 3-1. 

The Lions jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the first set on an ace by Greg Bodus and kills by Aidan Feeney. The Wildcats responded to tie the set at 10-10. The teams traded points and the lead until midway through the set when the Lions pulled ahead 17-15 on kills by Luke Wilson. The Wildcats responded with a 3-0 run to take the lead and closed the set on a 7-1 run to earn the 25-19 win in set one.

The Wildcats carried their momentum into set two, taking an early 5-1 lead. Kills by Elek Cumming cut the Wildcat lead to 6-3 but Fort Valley State responded to push their lead to 9-5. The Lions used a 3-0 run made up of kills by Feeney and Bodus to pull within one, 9-8 but the Wildcats answered to pull ahead 13-8. Midway through the set, the Lions trailed the Wildcats 16-13 and Fort Valley State expanded their lead to 20-14. Kills by Wilson cut the Wildcats lead to 21-16, but Fort Valley State answered with a 4-0 run to take set two, 25-16. 

Set three saw the Wildcats take an early 4-2 lead, but the Lions used kills by Bryan Povea and Cumming to tie the set at 4-4. The teams traded points until midway through the set when a 5-0 run by the Wildcats put Fort Valley State up 14-11. Kills by Feeney put the Lions within one, 18-17 but the Wildcats answered to pull ahead 22-17. Kills by Feeney and attack errors by the Wildcats put the Lions within a point, 22-21. The Lions tied things up at 24-24 on a kill by Cumming and the Lions scored the final two points, with kills by Cumming and Wilson to give the Lions set three, 26-24. 

The Lions took an early 5-2 lead in set four on kills by Feeney, Cumming and Wilson. A 3-0 run for the Lions pushed their lead to 8-4 but Fort Valley State responded to take the 13-12 lead. The teams traded points until late in the set. With the Wildcats up 19-16, Fort Valley State closed out the set strong to win set four, 25-20 and earn the 3-1 win. 

Overall, the Lions had 41 kills, 4 aces, 10 blocks, 34 assists, and 32 digs. 

Aidan Feeney led the way with 15 kills, with Luke Wilson and Elek Cumming adding 10 apiece. Feeney contributed 2 aces, with Feeney and Greg Bodus leading the team with 5 blocks apiece. Bodus added 26 assists, while Josh Staelher and Luke Wilson led the team in digs with 9 each. 

Next up, the Lions will host Life University tomorrow at 2PM. 

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.