Grantham, Pa. (April 7, 2021)- #5 Alvernia University (9-9, 8-8) was eliminated from the MAC Men's Volleyball Postseason by top-seeded Messiah University in a 3-1 loss to the Falcons on Wednesday night at Messiah. 

Messiah took an extended first set, 29-27, but Alvernia came back and took set two 26-24. The Falcons would then take the final two sets 25-18 and 25-22.

In set one of the night, the two teams traded the lead early. But, a six point run by Messiah put the Falcons up 17-12. Alvernia chipped away, but still trailed 24-20 led. The Golden Wolves then held off set point five times to take a 25-24 lead. The Falcons and Golden Wolves traded points, but Messiah scored the final three to take the 29-27 set win.

The Golden Wolves battled back in set two. With Messiah taking an early 2-0 lead, Alvernia rattled off six of the next eight points to jump ahead to 6-4 lead. Messiah would come back and tie it at 10-10, and the lead would be traded from there. Alvernia pulled ahead 23-20 late on an attack error by the Falcons, but Messiah came back and tied it at 24-24. Alvernia would go on to seal the set win on a block by Josh Stewart, Ethyn Burczyk and Victor de Avila, as well as another attack error by Messiah.

Messiah responded in the third set. The Falcons took an early 5-0 lead and would lead the set wire-to-wire, taking the third set 25-18 and going up 2-1 on the match,

Messiah led 8-4 early in the fourth set, but Alvernia went on a 6-3 run to pull within one at 11-10. Alvernia stayed with two for several points before tying it up at 16-16 on an attack error by Messiah. The Falcons and Golden Wolves would trade the lead up to a 22-22 tie. But, the Falcons would score three straight to take the 25-22 set win and 3-1 match win.

Tyler Anderson finished with 21 kills on 48 attacks. Burczyk finished with 25 set assists, and Stewart and de Avila finished with seven blocks.