Statesmen Roll to 3-0 Sweep Over Graceland

Oskaloosa--The William Penn University men's volleyball team cruised to a dominant 3-0 victory over Graceland in a Heart of America Athletic Conference showdown Friday.

The Statesmen (14-8, 11-4 Heart) were in control from start to finish, dismantling the Yellowjackets (2-19, 0-14 Heart) with set scores of 25-13, 25-12, and 25-14.

In the opening set, the two teams exchanged points early, with WPU holding a narrow 12-9 lead. However, the Statesmen quickly found their rhythm, embarking on a 7-2 run to extend their lead. They finished strong, using another 6-2 run to close out the set 25-13.

The second set saw William Penn take an early 7-2 advantage, but Graceland kept the contest close for a while. Leading 16-12, Travis Keller (Jr., Spruce Grove, Alberta, Business Management) took over behind the service line, leading the Statesmen on a dominant 9-0 run, including four service aces. Keller capped the set with a kill, and WPU secured the 25-12 win.

In the third set, William Penn jumped out to an 11-4 lead, but Graceland mounted a brief rally, cutting the deficit to 12-7. However, the Statesmen regained control, allowing just seven more points for the Yellowjackets as they cruised to a 25-14 victory, completing the sweep.

Offensively, William Penn outpaced Graceland in nearly every category, including a commanding 39-18 advantage in kills, hitting .397 compared to the Yellowjackets' .027. Both teams struggled with attack errors, with the Statesmen committing 10 to Graceland's 16.

Ben Cemeno-Castillo (Jr., Joliet, Ill., Business Management) led the Statesmen with 11 kills, while Britten Beallis (Jr., Naperville, Ill., Sports Management)added nine kills at an impressive .538 attack rate.

The Statesmen dominated from the service line as well, registering 11 aces in the match. Keller was the standout with four aces, while Cemeno-Castillo contributed three.

On defense, Brady Zell (Fr., Wales, Wis., Business Management) led the offense with 30 assists, while João Gabriel Filippelli (So., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Business Management) anchored the backline with 15 digs.

"Excellent effort by a big number of guys tonight," said Head Coach Luke Bentley. "Great team victory."

Next Up: William Penn heads to Salina, Kansas, on Monday for a 7:00 p.m. match against Kansas Wesleyan in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.