Grantham, Pa. – The Messiah men's volleyball team swept visiting Widener, securing Match One 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-16), and completing the sweep in Match Two, 3-1 (24-26, 25-12, 25-8, 25-13), to improve to a perfect 6-0 on the season. Senior setter Matt Knab combined for 51 assists throughout the two matches (30, 21) while reigning AVCA National Player of the Week, Mason Nissley, led the Falcons' attack with 17 total kills on the day (3,14).
 
Match One
The Falcons cruised through the first set, registering 12 kills to Widener's six. Messiah had only two attacking errors throughout the set, swinging at a .476 clip.
 
Messiah was able to complete the Match One sweep by clinching sets two (25-19) and three (25-16). The highlight of the match occurred in the third set when Ian Parzyzsek tallied three-consecutive service aces for the Falcons. 
The opening of match of the doubleheader proved to be a breeze for the Falcons, as they were just three set victories away from completing consecutive Saturday doubleheader sweeps (Arcadia, Feb. 27). Christian Wolf led the attack for Messiah in Match One, tallying 10 kills, with Parzyzsek contributing nine kills.

Match Two
Messiah dropped the opening set of Match Two to the Pride, falling, 26-24. Widener registered 11 kills in the set, led by three kills each from Nick Poulson and Dylan Beer. The Falcons responded by clinching the next three sets in decisive fashion behind an eight-kill third set from Nissley.

The visiting Pride handed over nine service errors in the second set as the Falcons capitalized on three service aces. In the third set, Nissley swung at an impressive .545 clip, as
Messiah swung .444 as a unit. An explosive 5-0 scoring run for the Falcons put the Pride out of commission during the third set, fueled by kills from both Nissley and Knab.

Messiah looked comfortable throughout the entirety of the match-deciding fourth set. The Falcons swung a .471 hitting percentage behind 11 kills, registering three service aces. Widener led the set early, 5-4, but a 3-0 scoring run from Messiah put the Falcons ahead, 7-5. Messiah never relinquished its lead, clinching the set and doubleheader behind consecutive swings from Zac Barbato.

With the doubleheader sweep, Messiah improves to 6-0, continuing its best start in program history.

What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m., when they clash with conference foes Stevenson University (3-0) on the road. Falling in its first six matchups, Messiah men's volleyball looks for its first program victory over the Mustangs.