Reading, Pa. (Feb. 9, 2022)- Alvernia University (3-3) defeated Elizabethtown College (6-1) 3-1 to hand the Blue Jays their first loss of the season in non-conference men's volleyball action Wednesday night at Alvernia.

Alvernia started strong, taking a quick 9-3 run, with Ian Rauh and Nick Cummins leading the charge. As the set progressed, the Alvernia offense was able to hold off Elizabethtown, with the score 20-14 late in the opening stanza.

The Golden Wolves put the first set out of reach, with Rauh and Tyler Anderson recording two key points. Alvernia claimed the first set 25-19 over the Blue Jays, taking a 1-0 lead.

The second set started close, with the Golden Wolves holding a slim 5-4 lead. Despite this, Alvernia's offense did not stay down for long, with Anderson sparking a 13-8 run, giving the Golden Wolves an 18-12 lead.

Strong play from Brian Rea and Caleb Whitehead taking helped take charge as Alvernia's offense continued to excel. The Golden Wolves claimed the second set 25-18, with Whitehead recording the final kill.

The third set started back and forth, with neither team able to gain much momentum. The Golden Wolves managed to take a narrow 12-8 lead. However, the Blue Jays offense quickly responded, evening the set, 12-12.

Elizabethtown's offense continued to fight, proving to be too much for Alvernia in the third stanza. Despite a late push from the Golden Wolves, the Blue Jays clung onto their lead, taking the third set, 25-23, making the match 2-1 in favor of Alvernia.

The fourth set started close, as both teams searched for a way to gain momentum, the score knotted 7-7 early in the fourth set. Anderson and Cummins gave the spark Alvernia needed, leading the way to a 6-2 run.

The Golden Wolves' offense continued to push, with Rauh and Ethyn Burczyck each tallying a kill late in the set. Despite the Blue Jay's efforts, Alvernia proved to be too much. Anderson and Rea dealt the late hammer blows that put the match out of reach. The Golden Wolves claimed the fourth set 25-20 and the match 3-1.

Anderson led all players with 16 kills, six total blocks, and five digs. Cummins tallied ten kills, four block assists, and five digs, while Burczyk dished out 37 assists to go along with five digs and one kill.

The Golden Wolves return to action this Saturday on the road at the Arcadia Invitational, facing off against Baruch College and Eastern Mennonite University.