Men's Volleyball Prevails in Five Set Thriller

CHESTER, Pa. - In an electrifying five-set battle against Widener University, the CUW men's volleyball team secured their first victory of the 2024 campaign with a hard-fought win of 24-26, 25-17, 25-22, 21-25, and 15-8.

The Falcons and the Pride engaged in a closely contested first set, with neither team gaining a significant advantage. The largest lead throughout was merely three points.

In that first frame, the Falcons would secure the 20-17 lead as senior Spencer Herman (Kimberly, Wis.) and junior Logan Kebisek (Brookfield, Wis.) connected on a set and kill.

However, Widener rallied back, taking a 24-22 lead before the resilient Falcons leveled the score at 24.

Despite CUW's efforts, Widener claimed the first set with the next point.

The second set mirrored the competitiveness of the first, remaining tied at 14 in the early stages.

A combination of Widener errors with well-executed plays from Spener Herman and sophomore Tate Miller (Anthem, Ariz.) gave the Falcons an 18-14 advantage.

Building on this momentum, the Falcons secured five consecutive points, including a service ace from Logan Kebisek, leading a 24-17 score. Another error from Widener handed the Falcons the second set, leveling the match at 1-1.

In the early parts of the third set, the Falcons jumped out to a 6-2 lead, courtesy of a combination of opponent errors and a kill by Lucas Beres (Germantown, Wis.).

The Falcons would sustain their slim margin as the set progressed, as senior Andy Ellingham (Burlington, Wis.), on a set from Kebisek, put the Falcons up 15-12.

But determined to protect their home court, Widener willed the score to 17-17. However, kills from Lucas Beres and Tate Miller, along with some Widener errors and a Tate Miller ace, would push the score to 22-18.

But the Pride showed no quit and would cut the Falcon's lead to just one, 23-22.

Out of a timeout, the Falcons would regroup and ice the next Widener serve to bring up a match point for the Falcons.

Spencer Herman would clinch the third set for the Falcons with a service ace and give Concordia Wisconsin the 2-1 lead heading into the fourth set.

Although the Falcons faced an early deficit in the fourth set, they fought back to tie the score at 20. Unfortunately, Widener prevailed, claiming the set 25-23 and setting the stage for a decisive fifth set.

In the fifth set, Spencer Herman gave the Falcons the 4-3 lead following a service ace. Later in the set, Herman would extend CUW's lead to 6-4. Following an error from Widener, Spencer Herman continued his excellent performance, recording another kill to put the Falcons up four, 8-4.

Three consecutive errors later, the Falcons found themselves up 11-4. Spencer Herman answered the call again later in the set to give CUW the comfortable 14-7 lead and match point.

Points later, the Falcons would the five victory, following a service error.

Spencer Herman led the Falcons with 26 kills, hitting a .385 percentage in the match and setting a program record for kills in five sets. Herman also had three service aces and eight digs for 31 points.

Tate Miller also recorded three service aces.

Meanwhile, sophomore Parker Pearson (Keller, Texas) had a game-high 10 digs in the winning effort.

The Falcons will hit the court next on the road, on Thursday, Feb. 1st, to take on the Cardinals of North Central at 7 p.m.