NEW YORK, New York — The Mount St. Joseph University men's volleyball team fought through a tightly contested five-set match on the road Thursday evening, ultimately falling to John Jay College in a back-and-forth battle.
MATCH ONE: MSJ 2 – JOHN JAY 3 (25-21, 18-25, 28-26, 21-25, 14-16)
Mount St. Joseph opened the match with strong energy, taking control of the first set behind efficient offense and steady defensive play. The Lions were able to build momentum midway through the frame and maintained their advantage late, closing out the set with a 25-21 victory.
John Jay responded in the second set, using a series of scoring runs to create separation and even the match. Despite several late points from the Lions, John Jay held on for a 25-18 win to send the match into the intermission tied at one set apiece.
The third set proved to be one of the most competitive stretches of the night, as both teams exchanged points throughout the frame. Neither side was able to gain much breathing room, forcing the set into extra points. The Mount showed composure in the extended rally situations, eventually securing a hard-fought 28-26 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
John Jay answered again in the fourth set, capitalizing on momentum to level the match once more. The Lions remained within striking distance for much of the frame, but the home team pulled away late to claim a 25-21 win and force a decisive fifth set.
The final set continued the theme of the night, with both teams trading points and battling for control. MSJ stayed competitive throughout the deciding frame, pushing the set beyond the standard 15-point mark. Despite the Lions' late push, John Jay narrowly edged out the final set 16-14 to secure the 3-2 match victory.
Several Lions turned in strong individual performances throughout the match. Sophomore Carson Reed led the Mount offensively while also contributing defensively, finishing with 11 kills and 12 digs to record a double-double. Senior Jude Lewis added 11 kills of his own, continuing to be a key offensive option for the Lions.
Sophomore setter Brayden Bass directed the MSJ attack, totaling 25 assists while distributing the ball across multiple hitters. Defensively, libero Sean Murray anchored the back row with 10 digs, helping the Lions extend rallies and stay competitive in a number of long points throughout the match.
Despite the narrow defeat, Mount St. Joseph showed resilience across all five sets, responding each time momentum shifted and forcing the match to the brink in the final frame.
UP NEXT: The Lions will return to action on Friday, March 20, when they travel to Olivet, Michigan to face The University of Olivet. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
