Men's Volleyball | 1/27/2018 8:33:00 PM
HIRAM, OHIO – The St. John Fisher College men's volleyball team jumped back into play at the Hiram College Invitational, winning both its matches on the day. First, the Cardinals took down the hosting Hiram Terriers, then moving on to defeat Penn State Behrend in a thrilling 3-2 set dual. With the wins, Fisher moved to 5-2 on the season, while Hiram fell to 3-4 and Penn State Behrend dropped to 2-4.
After dropping the first set, Fisher rallied back and took the next three sets in a back-and-forth match with the Terriers of Hiram. The Cardinals outdueled the Terriers on the playmaking end, with the Cardinals setting up 40 assists, compared to the Terriers 31.
Paul Hackford set up 34 plays, notching as many assists in the match. Kevin Cahil, Mike Strumpfler and Ben De La Cruz led the Cardinals with 11 kills apiece.
Hackford also added 12 total digs in the match on the defensive end, with David Cerqua and Matt Broderick adding 11 and seven digs apiece.
In the second match of the day, the Cardinals dropped the first set, but came back to win the next two sets, putting Fisher up two sets to one. However, the Lions would come back to win the fourth set, forcing a fifth and final deciding set. Penn State Behrend would rally back from a 13-10 deficit, knotting the set at 13 apiece, however Fisher would prevail winning the set 16-14 and taking the match.
De La Cruz led the charge for the Cardinals with 16 kills in the match. Cahil and Strumpfler would add 13 and nine kills respectively. Strumpfler would have nine total blocks.
Hackford would go off again for the Cardinals, registering 39 assists in the match, accumulating an impressive total of 73 assists combined for the day.
On the defensive end, Cerqua would total 20 digs, with Tyler Richards adding 11.
Fisher returns to the hardwood at 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 3rd back at home in the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Athletic Center against D'Youville College.
