OWINGS MILLS, MD (March 18, 2023) -- Despite starting the day with a set one win over #1 Stevens Institute of Technology, the King's College men's volleyball team dropped a pair of Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) matches, falling 3-1 to #1 Stevens and dropping a 3-0 decision to the host Stevenson University on Saturday afternoon. With the losses in Owings Mills, Md., the Monarchs drop to 17-4 overall and 1-3 in the MAC, the Ducks improve to 26-2 and 7-0 in the conference, and the Mustangs stand at 8-13 and 3-2 in the standings.
 
vs. Stevens - L, 1-3 (22-25, 12-25, 25-19, 18-25):
King's (17-4, 1-3 MAC) jumped out of the gates to start their Saturday afternoon, leading Stevens (26-2, 7-0 MAC) 13-7, but the nationally-ranked Ducks battled back within two, 19-17. The Monarchs then rattled off three straight points on a kill from Nick Greenawalt and a block from Jared Piontkowski. Stevens closed within two again, 24-22, but the Monarchs put an end to the set on a block from Sam Capwell and Peter Scholl to claim set one, 25-22, from #1 Stevens.
 
The Ducks took control early in set two, holding a 14-7 edge, and never looked back as they handed King's the 25-12 loss in set two to tie the match. The Monarchs battled in set three as the beginning of the set featured seven ties and two lead changes with Stevens on top, 9-7. The teams went back-and-forth, but with King's trialing, 19-17, Stevens went on a 6-2 run to end the set, 25-19, and go ahead 2-1 in the match.
 
King's seemed to sway the match back in their favor to start the fourth, leading 10-6, but the Ducks muscled out a 10-2 rally to jump ahead, 16-12. The Monarchs would battle down the stretch before falling, 25-18, in the set and 3-1 in the match.
 
Joe Herman paced the offense with 15 kills while adding a team-best 14 digs, while Piontkowski posted nine kills and 12 digs to go with three blocks and an ace. Aziz Atiyeh added eight digs to help the back-row defensive effort, and Owen McFadden tallied three blocks. Additionally, Ben Maskiell totaled 18 assists with five digs, while George Beck added 17 helpers.
 
Carver Weirick recorded a match-high 17 kills with 13 digs, while both Alex Franke and Nathan Lancia added 12 kills each in the win. Jesse Knuckles totaled a game-high 15 digs, and Colin Nikc added 49 assists for the Ducks.
 
King's tallied 45 kills off 41 assists while totaling 47 digs, seven blocks, and two aces in the loss. The Monarchs defense also held Stevens to a .270 hitting percentage with 20 attack errors.
 
vs. Stevenson – L, 0-3 (21-25, 17-25, 16-25):
The opening set was closely contested as both teams had a response for the opposition's rallies. Stevenson (8-13, 3-2 MAC) strung together four straight points mid-set which proved the difference as they handed the Monarchs the 25-21 loss in set one. Stevenson carried that momentum into the second, posting a 9-2 rally halfway through the second on their way to a 25-17 win in the set to take a 2-0 lead in the match. It was a similar story in the final set of the day as the Mustangs found a rhythm at the set's midpoint to defeat King's, 25-16, in the third and 3-0 in the match.
 
Piontkowski totaled 11 kills and 10 digs with a block, while Herman added 10 kills. Atiyeh tallied nine digs, while Sam Capwell and McFadden posted three blocks each to lead the efforts at the net. Maskiell recorded 14 assists and Beck added 11 in the loss.
 
Stevenson was paced by Jack Braverman with 16 kills, while Michael Dougherty totaled 12 digs. Justin Novoa dished out 34 assists with six digs, while Aidan O'Brien totaled five blocks for the Mustangs.
 
The Monarchs posted 30 assists on 34 kills while compiling 28 team digs and six blocks.
 
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The Monarchs will enjoy the week off before returning to play on Saturday, March 25 as they host Wilkes University and Hood College in the MAC tri-match beginning at 12:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.