GRANTHAM, PA. - As the number three ranked team in the nation, the Messiah men's volleyball team earned a well fought win against the number 15 team in the nation Rutgers Newark, winning a five set thriller 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 15-10). Mason Nissley had a game high 23 kills while Alex Kagoro had 11. Matt Knab had 50 assists and Owen Hanzelman led the team in digs with 10. 

The Falcons will travel to Huntingdon, Pa. for a tournament in Juniata, where they will face Geneva and St. John Fisher on Saturday, February 4. 

Thrilling Action
The teams traded points in a back and forth first half of the set with the set tied at ten. Three points later, Messiah led 13-10 which prompted a Rutgers-Newark timeout after a Bowman kill. The Falcons built the lead to as much as four at 15-11, but the Scarlet Raiders rallied to tied the game at 15. The Falcons built a small lead once again before Rutgers-Newark took a 21-20 lead to force Justin Beachy to use a timeout. The Scarlet Raiders took a 24-22 lead, as the Falcons fought off one set point but lost the other as the Scarlet Raiders took the first set 25-23. 

The Falcons took a four-point advantage at 12-8 before a timeout from Rutgers-Newark halted action. The Falcons came out of that stoppage on a mission to avenge the first set leading by as much as eight at 20-12. The Falcons closed out the set with a 25-17 win to even the match at 1-set all.  

The third set was reminiscent of the first, with the teams trading points as Messiah took a 12-9 lead early. The Falcons would pull away and despite a late rally from Rutgers Newark, the Falcons held their lead to take a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth set, winning the third 25-21. 

In the fourth set, it was Rutgers Newark who held the edge throughout, earning a 17-13 lead before Justin Beachy used a timeout. The Falcons tied the game at 21, 22 and then 23 before the Scarlet Raiders took the fourth set 25-23 to send the match to a decisive fifth set. 

Messiah took a 7-4 lead early in the set to force a Scarlet Raider timeout. Out of the timeout, a massive block by Nate Bowman increased the lead to four as the teams switched sides. Messiah led 11-7 to prompt the final timeout for Rutgers Newark. The Falcons pulled out the thrilling five set win by taking the fifth set 15-10. 

The Falcons hit .322 overall in the five set win. Mason Nissley had a game high 23 kills while Alex Kagoro had 11 kills. Matt Knab had a team high 50 assists and Owen Hanzelman led the team in digs with 10. 

Up Next
The win takes the Falcons to 6-0 on the season. The Falcons will travel to Juniata for a tournament this weekend against Geneva and St. John Fisher on Saturday, February 4. Messiah will play Geneva at 11:00 AM and St. John Fisher at 1:00 PM in Huntingdon, Pa.