WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 11, 2020) -- Sophomore Matt Piontkowski of the King's College men's volleyball team recorded a season-high 19 kills as the Monarchs defeated their cross-town rival Wilkes University, 3-1, on Wednesday night in McGrane Gymnasium in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play.

It was a fast-paced match from start to finish, as many expected after looking at the stats entering tonight's match. King's jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the opening set before Wilkes pulled within two, 7-5. Each team fought point-for-point as the Monarchs held an 18-17 advantage before they scored the next five straight to lead 23-17. The Colonels pulled within three, 23-20, kills by sophomore Joe Jones Jr. and freshman Sam Capwell ended the set with the Monarchs on top, 25-21.

The second set was very evenly matched as the score was tied, 11-11, before a King's 7-2 run pushed the lead. The Colonels responded as they recorded eight unanswered points to take a 21-18 lead. Back-to-back errors by Wilkes, a Piontkowski kill, and a block by Capwell and freshman George Beck tied the set at 22. Wilkes recorded the next point before the Monarchs scored the final three of the set as an ace by freshman Misael Hernandez gave the Monarchs the 2-0 lead for the match, taking set two, 25-23. Set three appeared like it would be the same as the previous two as the set was tied at 8, but Wilkes used a 7-1 run to take the lead, 15-9, and the Monarchs could not catch their stride as they dropped the third set, 25-17.

The Colonels continued their momentum into the fourth set as they recorded the first three points, but King's answered scoring the next 10, including two kills from both Piontkowski and freshman Joe Joe Herrman. Wilkes inched within one, 13-12, but the Monarchs used another run and looked as though they had pulled away maintaining a 24-19 lead. The Colonels recorded the next six points to take the lead, 25-24, but King's rallied to end the set with the last three points of the match off a Colonels service error and back-to-back King's blocks, one by Capwell and Piontkowski and the other by Capwell and Jones Jr. to take set four, 27-25, and the MAC match, 3-1.

Piontkowski's season-high 19 kills off 38 attempts, hitting .368, led the Monarchs offense. Herman totaled 17 kills, hitting .353, with nine digs and four blocks, and Capwell had a great all-around game as he recorded 10 kills, seven blocks, and an ace. For the defense, senior libero Kyle Duggan led with a match-high 16 digs, and sophomore Joe Jones Jr. added 12. At the net, junior Danny Harpersberger added four blocks, and setter Beck dished out a match-high 46 assists.

Wilkes (10-9, 1-3 MAC) was led by Zach Evans with 21 kills, four aces, and 13 digs. Andrew Potter totaled 12 terminations, and Zach Shay recorded 44 assists.

As a team, King's (17-6, 1-4 MAC) hit .232 for the match from 51 kills on 125 attempts compared to the Colonels' .186. The Monarchs also led in blocks (11-5) and digs (51-44).

The Monarchs are back in action on Saturday as they travel up the mountain to Misericordia University as they face the Cougars and Stevenson University in a MAC tri-match with game times at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the Anderson Center.