LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg men's volleyball team rallied for a dramatic five-set victory over Eastern Mennonite on Saturday morning inside Turner Gym, 25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 25-18, 22-20.
Joshua Davis led the Hornets (9-9, 6-4 ODAC) with 26 kills, the most ever in a single match in program history, while hitting .488. Jeremiah Costello added 11 kills, and Bryce Jackson contributed seven. Jourdin Filimaua anchored the front row with five blocks, while Will Radi directed the offense with 47 assists and added 10 digs.
Defensively, Brayden Berardo led Lynchburg with 15 digs as the Hornets totaled 64 digs in the match.
The opening set featured back-and-forth action with six lead changes and ten ties. Neither team gained much separation early, but Lynchburg found a late push behind several key attacks from Davis to take control. Eastern Mennonite (9-12, 4-5 ODAC) stayed within striking distance, but the Hornets held off the Royals down the stretch to claim the first set 25-22.
Eastern Mennonite responded in the second set with improved offensive efficiency. The Royals used a steady attack to keep pressure on Lynchburg as the teams traded points throughout the frame. With the set tied late, Eastern Mennonite pieced together a small run to pull ahead and secure the 25-23 win, evening the match at one set apiece.
The Royals carried that momentum into the third set. Eastern Mennonite jumped out to an early advantage and maintained control throughout most of the frame, limiting Lynchburg's ability to string together a run. The Hornets closed the gap late, but Eastern Mennonite held on for another 25-22 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Facing a deficit, Lynchburg delivered its most efficient set of the contest in the fourth. The Hornets settled into a rhythm offensively and used a strong mid-set surge to build separation. Eastern Mennonite struggled to regain momentum, allowing Lynchburg to extend its lead before closing the set 25-18 to force a decisive fifth.
The final set proved to be the most dramatic of the afternoon. The teams combined for 12 tie scores as neither side could create much breathing room. Eastern Mennonite and Lynchburg traded points deep into extra rallies before the Hornets finally secured the final two points needed to seal the 22-20 victory and complete the comeback.
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