BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Geneva College men's volleyball team had its home opener on Tuesday against an overmatched Alderson Broaddus squad, and the Golden Tornadoes made quick work of the Battlers in a sweep 25-14, 25-6, 25-15.   Geneva improved to 2-2 with the victory, while Alderson Broaddus opened its season 0-1.

Alderson Broaddus arrived with just seven players, and it didn't take long for Geneva to assert its dominance.  The score was tied 4-4 early in the first set when Geneva scored three straight, with senior Quinn McCracken (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver County Christian) contributing a kill and senior Michael Pohlod (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine Richland) adding an ace.  The Golden Tornadoes put the set away by scoring seven straight points off the service of freshman Jake Williams (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin), taking a 16-7 lead.  Williams then finished off the set, 25-14, with ace.

Geneva scored the first five points of the second set behind the serving of freshman Curtis Thomas (Arlington Heights, Ill./Christian Heritage Academy).  Sophomore Peter Barbato (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver County Christian) served the Golden Tornadoes to five more straight points, three of them aces, to give Geneva a 15-3 lead, and after an Alderson Broaddus point, Pohlod contributed two aces in another five points run for the Golden Tornadoes.  Junior Dan Townsend (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver County Christian) finished the set off, 25-6, with back-to-back kills.

Head Coach Curt Conser used the third set to allow some of his reserves some extended playing time, and the Battlers were able to hang with Geneva early, keeping the score tied 8-8.  However, senior Lincoln Mimidis (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) had back-to-back aces in four-point run to put the Golden Tornadoes up 12-8, and Geneva cruised from there.  Freshman Adam Chandoul (Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) added back-to-back aces in another four-point run later in the set, and junior Matthew Slater (Butler, Pa./Butler) finished off the match with back-to-back aces, 25-15.

"This was a good opportunity to allow some of our reserves to get some valuable playing time," said Coach Conser.  "We were able to work on some things in match competition that we've been working on in practice, and after a tough weekend, we were able to get some positive momentum going again, especially as we look ahead to the NCCAA Tournament in Chicago this weekend."

McCracken led the way with nine kills on a .900 hitting percentage.  The Battlers struggled with serve receive, with the Golden Tornadoes finishing with 14 aces.  Junior Anthony Baronio (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge) played in just the first set but still finished with 10 assists and three kills.  As a team, Geneva hit .304, including .486 in the first two sets.  Alderson Broaddus finishing with a -.127 hitting percentage.

Geneva leaves on Thursday for the National Christian College Athletic Association Men's Volleyball Invitational in Chicago, Illinois, hosted by Trinity Christian College.  The Golden Tornadoes will play two matches on Friday, one more on Saturday morning, and then a playoff match on Saturday afternoon that will be determined by how Geneva fares in its three pool-play matches.  Geneva opens with Greenville (IL) on Friday at 2:00 p.m.


Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 115 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the top engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God's Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today's world.