BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Geneva College men's volleyball team entered its final regular season day of the year on Saturday celebrating its lone senior, Carter Milroy, but focused on picking up an essential win in its first match of the tri-match against Hilbert and Chatham, and the Golden Tornadoes did just that to keep their season alive. Geneva swept Hilbert 25-22, 25-21, 26-24, and then finished the regular season with a 3-1 (25-12, 21-25, 25-15, 25-11) non-conference victory over Chatham. Geneva improved to 17-15 overall, and the win over Hilbert moved its Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) record to 5-4 and clinched a spot in the AMCC playoffs beginning next Tuesday.
The first match of the day between Geneva and Hilbert was essentially a playoff game. The two teams were competing for the final spot in the AMCC playoffs, with the winner earning the bid while the loser's season would wrap up on Saturday.
The match reflected how close the two teams were in the standings, with neither team able to separate themselves in any of the sets. Geneva used a 7-2 run early in the first set to grab an 8-5 lead, with Milroy and sophomore Andrew Ubinger supplying the final two points of the run on kills. However, Hilbert scored the next five points to regain the lead. Kills by Ubinger and freshman Owen Kelley pulled the Golden Tornadoes even at 13-13, but the Hawks scored the next three points. Geneva battled back, though, and another kill from Ubinger and two Hilbert attack errors gave the men the lead back, 21-19. Hilbert twice pulled within one late, the last time coming at 23-22, but a Hilbert service error and a double block from junior Decker Milroy and freshman Daniel Spear gave Geneva the win, 25-22.
Geneva's block was big in the match, and the Golden Tornadoes used two blocks and kills from Kelley and Carter Milroy in a five-point run early in set two to grab an 8-3 edge. Hilbert stayed close, though, pulling within 12-11 before kills from Kelley and Ubinger gave Geneva a little cushion again. A moment later, two Hilbert attack errors allowed the men to push their lead to 17-12, and the Geneva lead never dropped below three points again with the Golden Tornadoes winning 25-21.
Kills from Kelley and junior Matthew Thoman, along with an ace from Decker Milroy, gave Geneva a 7-4 edge early in set three. The Hawks scored the next three points before the Golden Tornadoes used a 7-3 run to extend their lead to 14-10. Hilbert wouldn't go away, though, quickly pulling even at 15-15. Geneva answered with four straight points, with Kelley and Carter Milroy supplying kills. The Hawks rallied again, though, using a late 5-1 run to pull even at 24-24. Hilbert was never able to take the lead though, and Geneva finished off the match with a Hilbert service error and, fittingly, a kill from Carter Milroy to wrap up his Senior Day match, 26-24.
Kelley led a balanced offensive attack with 12 kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Carter Milroy finished with 11 kills on a .321 hitting percentage, along with a team-high 12 digs, while Ubinger also reached double-digit kills with 10. Decker Milroy had a strong day setting, finishing with 30 assists, seven digs and five blocks. Spear also finished with five blocks. Ubinger and junior Joshua Sangrey each added 10 digs.
Geneva didn't have any pressure in its second match of the day against Chatham, and the Golden Tornadoes dominated the match early. Geneva used an early 12-2 run to grab a 14-4 advantage, with Ubinger contributing two kills and two aces. The Cougars pulled within 16-11, but Geneva put the set away with five straight points, including a kill and two blocks from Carter Milroy, and the men finished off the set, 25-12, on a kill from Kelley.
Geneva led early in set two, eventually stretching its lead to 15-10 behind a double block from Ubinger and Milroy. However, Chatham responded with its best stretch of the match. The Cougars pulled even at 18-18. A kill and an ace from sophomore Evan Puhl helped give Geneva a 21-19 lead, but Chatham scored the final six points to win the set, 25-21.
Chatham carried that momentum into set three, grabbing an early 4-2 edge. However, three kills from Kelley and two kills from Milroy allowed Geneva to grab a 9-6 lead, and the Golden Tornadoes controlled the rest of the set. Five straight points, with Ubinger adding two more kills, extended the Geneva advantage to 19-11, and a double block from Milroy and Ubinger finished off the set, 25-15.
Chatham scored the first two points of the fourth set, but Geneva responded. The Golden Tornadoes scored the next five points on two kills from Kelley, kills from Milroy and Ubinger, and an ace from Thoman. Chatham tried to stay close, pulling within 13-10 before nine straight Geneva points put the match away. Kelley, Milroy and Ubinger each had two kills in the run, and again, fittingly, Milroy finished off the match with an ace, 25-11.
Ubinger led the team against Chatham with 16 kills on a .467 hitting percentage. Kelley had 12 kills on a .381 hitting percentage, while Milroy also reached double figures in kills with 10, to go with a team-high eight blocks, as Geneva hit .308 as a team. Decker Milroy directed the offense with 34 assists, along with 10 digs. Sangrey led the team with 17 digs.
The victory over Hilbert secured the No. 6 seed for the upcoming AMCC playoffs. Geneva will travel to No. 3 Thiel on Tuesday for a 7:00 p.m. match in the AMCC quarterfinals. If the Golden Tornadoes win, they would head to Saint Vincent on Friday for an AMCC semifinal matchup with No. 2 Hiram.
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).
