ARLINGTON, VA. – The Messiah mens volleyball team comes from behind to take down the Saints of Marymount University (14-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-10) 3-2. The Falcons dropped the first two sets to the Saints in what seemed as if the match was out of reach. However, the Falcons rallied to take set three 25-22 shifting the momentum in their favor. Set four looked to be a tight race, as both teams battled the entire set but a final 5-1 run to end the set 25-23 tied the match up at 2-2 forcing a fifth set. The momentum on the Falcons side, Messiah stormed out the gate to take an early 6-3 lead. The Saints would rally from behind to cut the deficit to 8-6. However, another 5-1 run for the Falcons extended their lead to 13-7 needing two more points to steal the road victory. Marymount scored the next two points, looking for one last run but it would not be enough. Messiah closed out the final set with kills from Ryan Givens and Zac Barbato to secure the 15-10 win and the 3-2 match win ending their regular season with a record of 16-9 and 6-2 in conference.
 
The Falcons were led by Jacob Hamm (17) and Zac Barbato (16) in kills. While Brandon Sharp put together a stellar performance with 51 assists on the evening.

How It Happened:
Set One
The Falcons found themselves trailing 5-1 early in the opening set. While continuing to claw back, the Saints held on to their lead heading into the midway point up 16-9. Ryan Givens, Zac Barbato, and Jacob Hamm all contributed for the Falcons in the first set. However, the Falcons could not slow down the Saints attacks, as they took set one from the Falcons 25-14.
 
Set Two
Marymount continued their strong offensive performance, taking an early 7-4 lead. However, Givens and a couple Blazer errors led to the Falcons finding their way back into the set tying it at 10-10. Messiah would than go on an 3-0 run, with points from Barbato, Hamm, and a Hood error to take an 13-10 lead. Though the Saints responded well, scoring eight of the next ten points taking an 18-15 advantage. The Falcons took advantage of more Blazer errors as they found themselves tied 20-20. Both teams would exchange points the rest of the way, but it would be the Saints prevailing 25-23 to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
Set Three
Set Three saw both teams battling throughout. Messiah held strong, not letting the Saints gain any momentum as they trailed 10-9 through the early part of the set. The Falcons would score six out of the next eight to take a 15-12 lead, with help from Barbato, Alex Kagoro, and Hamm. Messiah gained a lead as large as six, entering the final stretch of the set up 22-16. Marymount got hot late, chipping away at the lead cutting the score to 23-21 looking to sweep the Falcons. However, another Blazer error, and an Hamm kill would end the set at 25-22.
 
Set Four
Messiah looked to keep the momentum on their side, but the Saints were determined to close out the match as both teams were tied 10-10 heading into the midway point. For most of the set both teams gave up little ground, as the teams were all square at 18-18. However, attack errors would be the difference for the Falcons as they took advantage of three Blazer errors with support from Kagoro, Barbato and Hamm to steal the fourth set 25-23 and force a fifth and final set.
 
Set Five
Givens, Barbato, and Kagoro got things going for the Falcons to open the fifth set with a 6-3 lead. A couple points later and Messiah found themselves up 9-4. However, the Saints did not go away, cutting the Falcon lead to 9-7. It would not be enough to deny the Falcons from the reverse sweep with Messiah scoring five of the last eight points to win the set 15-10.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah will travel to Dallas, Pa when they take on the Misericordia Cougars in a MAC Semifinal match, Thursday April 11^th at 7:00p.m.