After a stomach bug some team members called, "The Plague," went through the Lancaster Bible College men's volleyball team last weekend, the Chargers, all healthy now, were determined to play their best volleyball on Monday night against Northland International University.

Through a total team effort the Chargers battled and held off the Pioneers, winning, 3-1. The Chargers won, 27-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22 in four very evenly played sets.

"Both teams fought hard tonight," Chargers' Head Coach Evelyn Long said. "Our effort paid off in the end and everyone played a part in this win."

Keith Mitzel had a team-high 13 kills for LBC (6-10), while A.J. Longacre had 10 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore Alex Bahn had seven kills, 30 assists and 12 digs for the Chargers, while Joey Brennen added five kills and seven blocks.

In the opening set, the Chargers fought off three set points to tie the set at 24-24 before taking a brief 25-24 lead. The Pioneers battled back to tie it 25-25, before the Chargers won the next two points, earning the 27-25 victory.

"I think tonight was the best we have communicated on the floor all season long," Long said. "We were hungry for a win and we performed well to earn it."

LBC jumped out to a 14-4 lead on the Pioneers in the second set, before Northland won 10 of the next 14 points to cut the deficit to 18-14. After a Chargers' timeout, the teams split the next 14 points as LBC hung on for a 25-21 victory to take a two-set lead. Bahn's play in the first and second sets helped propel the Chargers to the lead.

"His leadership and play is very key to how well this team plays," Long said. "He does so much in the background not only during matches, but at practice as well. He is intense whenever he is on the floor and he played very well tonight."

Despite being down two sets, the Pioneers (9-14) refused to give up and took the third set, 25-21. 

The teams battled back and forth in the fourth set before LBC gave itself some room at 24-21. Northland fought off one match point, but the relentless Chargers' attack proved to be too much and LBC iced the game on the next point, taking the fourth set, 25-22.

"Having a positive hitting percentage is huge for us," Long said. "We haven't been able to do that in some matches this season, but the guys played smart tonight. A.J. and Keith made good choices and Jesse always seems to make the right decision."

The Chargers will look to build on Monday's win on Saturday when face Elmira and Philadelphia Biblical in Langhorne, Pa.

Notes:
-Northland and LBC had met only once before this, with the Pioneers beating the Chargers, 3-1 in March 2008.

-This was only the sixth meeting between the two schools in any sport. LBC is now 2-4 against Northland. The men's basketball team is 1-1 against the Pioneers, while the men's soccer team is 0-2. Northland defeated the Chargers at the NCCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championships this past November.