BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Golden Tornadoes faced fellow Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) squad Hiram University in a non-conference match Wednesday evening, and they came away with an excellent four-set victory (27-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-20). Geneva now stands at 9-5 on the season, and Hiram's record drops to 6-3, 1-0 in the AMCC.
Geneva started the first set hot, with three kills from senior Carter Milroy putting the men up 9-3 early. Hiram worked their way back to get within three points, 15-12, but the GTs continued to maintain the lead as the set wound on, eventually going up 20-14. A 7-1 run from the Terriers tied the score at 21, and they took the lead shortly thereafter, 24-23. A kill from freshman Owen Kelley and ace by junior Decker Milroy put Geneva back in front, and the men took a close first set 27-25.
The second set began very similarly to the first, as Geneva opened on a 6-1 run capped by an ace from Kelley. Hiram then scored six straight points to take the lead, and play began to go back-and-forth until the Terriers produced another 6-point run mid-set to take a commanding 20-15 lead. They maintained the lead through the end of the set, and Hiram won it 25-19.
Hiram looked to be the better side at the beginning of the third set, going up 9-4 early. A 5-1 run by Geneva capped by an ace from freshman Alex Smith tied the score at 10, but Hiram responded well and didn't let the GTs take the lead. The two sides were neck-and-neck throughout the majority of the set, until finally a block by freshman Peter Samuelsen and Kelley pushed the men into the driver's seat, 23-22. Hiram would briefly take a 24-23 lead a few points later, but a Carter Milroy kill paired with an ace from Kelley propelled Geneva to take the nail-biter of a third set 26-24.
Again, Hiram appeared to create some momentum for themselves by going in front 4-0 as the fourth set began, but Geneva immediately rallied to tie it at four. The two sides traded points for a while before three straight kills by Kelley gave the GTs a 21-19 advantage. Those kills would end up being the first three points of a 7-1 Golden Tornado run to end the fourth set, which they won 25-20, taking the match in four sets.
Kelley finished with a team-high 15 kills on the evening, with sophomore Andrew Ubinger and Carter Milroy right behind him with 12 and 11, respectively. Decker Milroy led the GTs in assists with 31, and junior Joshua Sangrey paced them defensively with 17 digs.
The men will remain at home for Friday's match against Penn State-Behrend before going on the road again for a tri-match on Saturday, hosted by Juniata College.
Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).
