The whirlwind of the 2021 Lancaster Bible College men's volleyball season came to an end in the NCAA Division III National Quarterfinals on Wednesday night in Salem, Va., as the Chargers lost to Benedictine (Ill.), 3-0. Lancaster Bible caps its season with an 11-4 record after falling to the Eagles, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21.
 
How it Happened: Lancaster Bible opened the match well, as the Chargers took an early 5-1 lead thanks to kills from Kyran Flahive and Hunter Davis, as well as an ace from Reuben Kemrer. Benedictine responded by winning six of seven points, and took a 7-6 lead after a Lancaster Bible error. The teams exchanged points through the middle of the set, but Benedictine won five of six points and grabbed a 15-12 lead after an ace. The Eagles eventually led 24-19, but Lancaster Bible strung together three straight points, and forced Benedictine to call timeout. The timeout worked, and the Eagles won the next point to take the first set, 25-22.
 
The teams went back and forth early in the second set, and Kole Horst knotted the frame at 8-8 with a kill. Horst continued to power the Chargers and after three straight kills from the senior, Lancaster Bible let 13-12. The teams exchanged points again, and Lancaster Bible led 19-18 late in the second set, but Benedictine had one more run in them, and won five straight points for a 23-19 advantage. Lancaster Bible tried to respond late again, and Elijah Herb's kill cut the deficit to 24-22, but after another Eagles' timeout, Benedictine took the set, 25-22.
 
Benedictine tried to race out ahead and put the Chargers away early in the third set with a 7-3 lead, but Lancaster Bible won three of the next four points thanks to two Flahive kills, and trailed just 8-6. The Chargers won six of seven points later in the set, and climbed all the way back to tie the set at 14-14 after three kills from Flahive, another from Horst, and a block assist by Hunter Davis and Horst. The Eagles slowly inched away again however, and eventually won the set and match with a kill from Chase Olson.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible had 33 kills and 22 errors on 95 attempts for a .116 attack percentage…Benedictine had 41 kills and 16 errors on 103 attempts for a .243 hitting percentage…Lancaster Bible led in digs, 37-35, and 4-3 in blocks, while each team had three aces…Flahive led the Chargers with 11 kills, and also added nine digs…Horst had seven kills and seven digs, while Davis was terrific with five kills, three blocks, and three digs…Herb had five kills and five digs, and Kemrer had 27 assists and four kills…Nathan Klimisch led the Eagles with 12 kills.
 
The Coach Says: "We are so thankful to be here, and thankful to the NCAA for hosting the tournament," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Jade Brubaker said in a postgame interview. "We wish we could have played better, but Benedictine played very well and it took us too long to adjust."
 
On the team's seniors: "We've built the program around these guys, and they've been rock steady for us," Brubaker said. "I'm happy they got this opportunity, and they embody exactly what you want from a student-athlete."
 
On the 2021 men's volleyball season: "It was an unusual year, but we were able to start in January like we always do, and we are so thankful to the administration for helping to get us on the court and play," Brubaker said "We had no idea we would even be able to have this opportunity, and we were just happy to have the opportunity to play. We are just very thankful."
 
News & Notes: This was the first-ever match between the two teams…The Chargers are now 1-2 all-time at the NCAA Division III National Tournament…This was the second time the Chargers have played in the NCAA Quarterfinal Round, and the first time since the program's other NCAA Division III National Tournament appearance in 2018…Thursday marked the first match for the Chargers since March 20 at Penn St. Altoona…Flahive had double-digit kills for the eighth time in 15 matches this season…Horst now has 977 kills in his career, and is second on the program's all-time list.