Virginia Beach, VA – On Saturday, the Regent University Men's Volleyball team made the short trip down I-64 for an early afternoon tri-match with Mount Aloysius College and Virginia Wesleyan University. It was another opportunity for the Royals to continue to solidify themselves in the 757 College Volleyball scene, but they would have to face two NCAA DIII programs that carried rosters with plenty of experience. However, Regent was up to the task and ready to play.
Game One
The first set began with the Mounties taking an early lead, but a forced service error put the Royals on the board. A Junior Lucas Whitman (Suffolk, VA) kill trimmed the advantage to one-point, but Mount Aloysius was able to string together points to go out in front 6-2. Junior Keith Larkin (Snohomish, WA) stopped the run and then Graduate Student Aaron Campbell (Virginia Beach, VA) delivered a big kill. That allowed Larkin to step to the service line and help Regent tie the game at 7-7. The score would remain tied after another Campbell kill; however, the Mounties once again were able to go on a run. A long rally ended with a Whitman kill and then Larkin would serve an ace to tie the game. Campbell gave the Royals their first lead with a kill and that was followed by a block by Freshman Joshua Bissell (Dillsburg, PA). Things would tighten up but after two kills by Freshman Preston Nemeti (Burke, VA) and one from Graduate Student Colby Yawn (Chesapeake, VA) the Royals would win the set 30-28.
Campbell, Nemeti and Larkin opened the second set with kills, helping Regent grab a quick advantage 8-4. Larkin continued the scoring from the service line, while Whitman and Yawn came up big at the net and after a Yawn block, the Royals suddenly held a nine-point lead. That advantage increased to double digits after Yawn service points and kills from Campbell and Whitman, allowing Regent to take the set 25-14.
A Larkin kill got things started in the third set and then serves by Campbell kept the Royals out in front. Nemeti would continue his hot streak at the net as Sophomore Ariel Downer (Spring Lake, NC) was able to record dig after dig, allowing Yawn to hammer one home for the two-point lead. Bissell increased the advantage to four points, after a block, and that was followed up by another Nemeti kill. Campbell helped the Royals finish things off as they would go on to win the match by a final score of 3-0 (25-18).
Campbell finished the game with 18 kills and 18 digs, while Yawn dished out 32 assists. In addition, Downer finished with 14 digs.
Game Two
Campbell picked up where he left off, getting big swings at the net as the first set got underway. However, the Marlins were able go out in front early, 4-2. Two more kills by Campbell trimmed the deficit and then a kill from Nemeti, followed by a block from Bissell, kept things close as Regent pulled to within one point, 9-8. Eventually. Virginia Wesleyan would go on a run, but a kill from Campbell, combined with a Yawn ace, forced a Marlins' time out with Regent only trailing by three points. However, they were not able to come back and fell 25-21.
The second set began with Yawn converting a set from Bissell for the point. The Marlins would answer but Whitman connected on a kill for an answer of his own. Whitman continued to find his swing, but Virginia Wesleyan would not relinquish the lead. Kills by Yawn and Campbell cut into the deficit by unfortunately the Royals would fall 25-15.
Regent opened the third set with a kill from Larkin and then after a Marlins' error, they were able to tie the score at 3-3. They would fall behind, but Junior Aubrey Flora (Chesapeake, VA) pulled his team to within one point with a kill and then he would follow that up with another one to grab the momentum. A few points later, Campbell put together back-to-back kills, but Virginia Wesleyan answered with some of their own to ultimately win the match 3-0 (25-16).
Campbell finished with a team high 14 kills, while Yawn dished out a team high 23 assists and 14 digs. In addition, Downer added 11 digs.
The Royals will be back in action on Tuesday, March 18th when they host Saint Andrews University. First serve is scheduled for 6:00pm.
