BELMONT, N.C. --- The Tusculum men's volleyball team saw familiar faces and places, but ended up being swept by the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Wednesday night.

The Crusaders (8-5) won by scores of 25-23, 25-12, 25-16 to defeat the Pioneers (1-9).

Andrew Kohut and Matteo Miselli collected eight kills apiece to pace Belmont Abbey. Brian Long was efficient with his five kills, firing at a .571 rate. Brennan Davis notched 26 of the Crusaders' assists, while Miselli (3) and Long (2) landed the most service aces. Miselli also finished with a team-best five digs, just ahead of four by Riley Mulkey. At the net, Davis, Mulkey, and Long are credited with a pair of block assists each. Kohut and Miselli round out the category, both with a block assist.

Caleb Slater led the way for Tusculum with his seven kills. Dane Loup, Tom Kait, and Shaphar Grant landed four kills apiece. Grant finished on a .429 hitting percentage. Hunter Walck (3) and Reese DeElena (1), in his first collegiate start, wrapped up the column. DeElena net 21-of-22 assists for the Pioneers and Peter Stewart is credited with the remainder. Kait added the lone ace, while Loup dug up a team-high five attempts. Slater and Kait combined for the only block of the night for Tusculum.

Belmont Abbey finished the match with a .351 hitting percentage with 31 kills and 11 attack errors in 57 total attempts. Tusculum totaled 23 kills, 21 errors, and 65 swings for a .031 hitting percentage. The Crusaders led the Pioneers in assists (29-22), aces (7-1), digs (19-12), and  total blocks (4-1).

Tusculum stays in-state for its next match. First serve at Lincoln Memorial on Friday (Mar. 19) is at 2 p.m.