GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team continues its long road swing by heading to West Virginia to face off with two Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) opponents in George Mason and Charleston (W. Va.).
RECAPPING THE WEEK
The Pioneers dropped both contests in straight sets to Midwestern opponents Lindenwood and McKendree over the weekend.
Matteo Miselli was the offensive threat, totaling 14 kills, followed by Shaun Kampshoff with seven. Mackenzie Scott finished with six, while both Arthur Amorim and Shaphar Grant collected four each. Amorim was perfect on the weekend, going 4-for-4 on his swings. Lucas Blanco and Peter Stewart split the setting duties, dishing out 20 and 15 assists, respectively. Miselli was the lone Pioneer to record a service ace. All four came against McKendree, tying his career-best for a single match.
Defensively, Jaret Knight added the most digs with eight, just ahead of Miselli's five. Stewart also scooped up four. Both blocks also came against the Bearcats. Ivan Sosa was credited with a solo block, while Kampshoff and Amorim combined for the remaining defense.
Tusculum leads the independent teams in aces per set (1.43), good for 19th nationally. Individually, Miselli ranks first among the unaffiliated with .519 aces per set, 13th nationally, while third in points per set (3.48) and fourth in hitting percentage (.202). Fourth in their respective categories, Kampshoff is averaging .304 aces per set and Blanco nets 6.64 assists each frame.
LOOKING AHEAD
George Mason (4-4) will travel to the Charleston Golden Eagles in a EIVA matchup the night before Tusculum comes to town. The Patriots have yet to play away from their home court this season and will face the Pioneers in their second match out of familiar territory. The Virginia team has four players with over 50 kills: Richie Hoff (71), Bradley Creamer (65), Sam Greenslade (63), and Jack Reese (52). Zach Talamoa has handed out 156 assists, followed by Ayrton Garcia-Jurado with 89. At the line, Greenslade leads the way with eight aces. Trevor Keenan has racked up 61 digs, just ahead of 53 from Greenslade. Reese is credited with 30 total blocks (three solo, 27 assists) to head up the defense at the net. Reese's 1.071 blocks per set are enough for 15th in the country. The Patriots are in the top-15 nationally in three statistical categories: digs per set (11th, 9.54), blocks per set (12th, 2.357), and team attacks per set (13th, 27.71).
Charleston (1-8), who received votes in the Week 4 Off the Block Division II Coaches Poll, hosts George Mason Friday night before the Pioneers invade their gym. The Golden Eagles' lone win came against Erskine in mid-January, going four sets. Lachlan Bray (77) and Jake Vorburger (68) head up the offensive attack for the West Virginia squad. Diego Villafane is averaging 8.72 assists per set for a total of 279. Behind the line, Bray has collected 10 aces, while Edgar Sanchez has scooped up 44 digs. Adriel Roberts has netted 20 total blocks (two solo, 18 assists) to lead the defense.
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.