Reading, Pa. (Mar. 27, 2017) - Lancaster Bible College (23-7) defeated Alvernia University (10-13) by a 3-1 final Tuesday evening in non-conference men's volleyball action at the Physical Education Center.

The Chargers stormed out of the gate with a 25-12 win in the opening set.  The Crusaders were able to level the match with a 25-23 win in the second set.

LBC took an early 4-1 lead and Alvernia trailed until Spencer Matthews pounded down a kill to tie the set at 11-all.  Moments later the Crusaders were up 15-13 after a service ace from Ralph Lunati.  Momentum went back and forth until LBC scored four straight points for a 23-21 lead prompting an Alvernia timeout.

Lunati came out of the timeout with a kill then took his turn in the serving rotation and recorded an ace to tie the score at 23-all.  Following an LBC timeout, Lunati served out the match with the Crusaders getting a kill from Anthony Dadson and closing the match on a setting error by the Chargers.

For the third time in as many sets, the Chargers were strong early, taking a 10-3 lead with five straight points on the serve of Derek Bigley.  The Crusaders stemmed the tied when Dadson and Justin Gibbs combined for a block.

Alvernia was able to pull as close as two points, 16-14, on a Matthews' kill, but LBC answered with four straight and five of six points to pull ahead 21-15 on the way to a 25-19 win in the set.

The fourth set was another strong start from the Chargers who led 9-4 and kept a working margin all the way to a 25-19 win.

Matthews finished with a team-high 12 kills, Gibbs handed out 27 assists, and Charlie Saloum led the defensive efforts with 14 digs.

Alvernia returns to action Friday hosting Thiel College in a Continental Conference match.

Lancaster Bible 3, Alvernia 1