Statesmen Drop Four-Setter to Westcliff

Irvine, Calif.--The William Penn men's volleyball team could not maintain its strong start as it fell 3-1 to Westcliff in non-conference play Thursday.

In the finale of its California trip, #8 WPU (15-9) lost by scores of 25-21, 20-25, 22-25, 25-27.  The squad, which nipped the Warriors 10-9 in blocks and 8-5 in aces, failed to overcome being outhit .282-.175.

The navy and gold posted a .304 attack clip in the opening set to take a 1-0 edge.  The visitors scored the first point of the night and stayed on top for nearly the entire first round, including tallying six of the final nine points.

WPU failed to double its advantage, however, as it trailed Westcliff the entire second set.

The third set witnessed the Statesmen score four of the first five points, but the home team responded with four unanswered.  A pair of 3-0 runs put WPU back on top, but it was short-lived as the Warriors took the lead for good at 19-18 and went up 2-1 in the match.

Looking to force a fifth set, William Penn started the fourth round with back-to-back points, but its host caught fire to grab an 11-7 edge.  Five unanswered gave the Statesmen the lead again and they kept it all the way to set point at 24-20.

Unfortunately, the Warriors produced four in a row before WPU got one point back to yet again hold a set point at 25-24.  Westcliff would not be denied, however, and scored the final three points to take the victory.

Ike Papes (Jr., Elwood, Ill., Sports Management) guided the navy and gold with 16 kills in addition to three aces.

Charlie Figy (Jr., Appleton, Wis., Secondary Education) and Eli Herro (Sr., Dousman, Wis., Business Management), with a team-best .467 attack mark, both recorded nine kills, while Landon Krause (Jr., Appleton, Wis., Business Management) was next with eight winners.

Matt Helmick (Jr., Fullerton, Calif., Business Management) produced 39 assists, while Carlos Garcia (Jr., Laredo, Texas, Nursing) led the back row with seven digs.

Herro was WPU's top blocker with two solo blocks and two block assists; Papes and Helmick were both part of three blocks as well.

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa next Tuesday for its regular season finale, hosting Clarke in Heart of America Athletic Conference play at 7 p.m.  The match will also serve as Senior Night.