The Lancaster Bible College men's volleyball team swept its way to a fantastic Saturday, as the Chargers defeated Penn St. Altoona and Marymount by identical 3-0 scores. The Chargers improved to 4-2 overall with the victories, and have now won four in a row after opening the season with a pair of losses.
 
Lancaster Bible 3, Penn St. Altoona 0
25-19, 25-18, 25-18
 
How it Happened: Lancaster Bible opened the first set by winning six of the first eight points, as Nate Miller had two kills during the scoring run. Kole Horst added a kill later in the set, and followed with a block assist alongside of Zeke Hallman to make it 11-6. Penn St. Altoona cut its deficit to 20-17 late in the set, but Lancaster Bible won four of five points, two of which came off of aces from Horst, and the Chargers eventually took the set, 25-19.
 
The Chargers took six of the first seven points in the second set, as Miller had four kills to open the second frame. The Nittany Lions cut the Chargers' lead to 13-9 midway through the set, but Lancaster Bible won four straight points, as Reuben Kemrer served three straight solid balls to help the Chargers to a 17-9 advantage. The teams split points the rest of the way, and a block assist from Hallman and Benjamin Herb sealed the second set for the Chargers, 25-18.
 
Penn St. Altoona opened a 3-2 lead to begin the third set, but Lancaster Bible won five straight points, and took a 7-3 lead on an error by the Nittany Lions. The Chargers continued to pour it on in the third set, and took a 16-9 lead on a kill from Horst. Once again, the teams split points, and Hallman closed out the set and the match with a kill.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible held a 39-25 edge in kills, and a 7-5 advantage in blocks…Miller led the Chargers with 12 kills and four digs, while Horst added 11 kills, two aces and five digs…Daniel Kreider chipped in with six kills and four blocks, while Herb had five kills, three blocks and six digs…Kaleb Ansell led the Chargers with 34 assists…Brian Sheddy had a team-best 11 kills for the Nittany Lions.
 
Information Hodge Podge: Penn St. Altoona leads the all-time series, 11-6 between the two teams, though the Chargers have won the last three meetings…This is just the second time in six years the Chargers have won their home opener.
 
Lancaster Bible 3, Marymount 0
25-20, 25-19, 25-21
 
How it Happened: The Saints jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, but Lancaster Bible rallied back, and cut the deficit to 8-7 after a kill from Horst. Marymount won five of the next six points though, and built a 13-8 advantage. The Chargers slowly began to chip away at their deficit, and trailed just 17-16 after winning four of five points, one of which came off a kill from Hallman. Marymount restored a three-point lead at 20-17 after a kill from Sam Safley, but it would be the Saints final point of the opening set, as Lancaster Bible won the final eight points to secure a 25-20 win. Miller served seven of the eight points, adding an ace and a kill during the run, as Herb finished off the set with a kill.
 
The Chargers began the second set by winning four of five points, but Marymount took its turn to rally back, and led 6-5 after winning five of six points. The teams exchanged points for much of the second set, but Lancaster Bible began to turn the tide, and led 17-14 after an ace from Herb. Lancaster Bible would eventually lead, 23-19, and won the final two points via a kill from Horst, and a block by Daniel Kreider.
 
Lancaster Bible led early in the third set, but Marymount won eight of nine points to take a 10-5 lead. The Saints would eventually lead, 18-13, but the Chargers wouldn't go away, and won six of seven points to tie the match at 19-19 after an error by Marymount. Lancaster Bible didn't stop there, and eventually won 11 of 12 points, taking a 24-19 lead on a kill from Miller. After two points by Marymount, Horst closed the match out with a kill, as he took a great set from Kaleb Ansell.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible finished with 37 kills and just 11 errors on 73 attempts for a .356 hitting percentage, while Marymount had 29 kills and 21 errors on 83 attempts for a .096 hitting percentage…The Chargers held a 26-20 edge in digs, and a 7-3 advantage in blocks…Miller finished with 15 kills for the Chargers, while Horst had nine kills, six digs and three blocks…Hallman chipped in with four kills and four blocks, while Ansell had 27 assists, seven digs and a block…Safley led the Saints with 12 kills.
 
Information Hodge Podge: Lancaster Bible is now 1-2 all-time against Marymount…The Saints defeated the Chargers, 3-0 last season…All four of Lancaster Bible's victories this season have come in three sets…The Chargers hit over .340 twice on Saturday, and have now done so in four matches this season...Lancaster Bible is averaging 11.83 kills per set so far this season.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible travels to Reading, Pa. next Saturday to take on Alvernia and New Jersey City at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.