CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. -- The Siena Heights men's volleyball team swept both Cumberland (Tenn.) and Midway (Ky.) on the first day of the Thomas More Invitational in Crestview Hills, Ky. Kevin Gomez (La Estrella, Colombia) finished the day with 19 kills to lead the Saints attack.
THE BASICS
Final Scores: Siena Heights def. Cumberland (Tenn.) & Midway (Ky.), 3-0
Location: Crestview Hills, Kentucky (Connor Convocation Center)
Record: Siena Heights (6-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
SHU def. Cumberland (Tenn.), 3-0
After giving the Phoenix a 1-0 lead in the first set, the Saints went on an 18-1 run to jump way ahead on the way to a 25-15 win and a 1-0 lead. A 4-0 run to start the second propelled Siena Heights to an 18-10 lead. The Phoenix cut the deficit to five points, but the Saints remained ahead for a 2-0 lead in the match. With the score tied at 10 in third, SHU rattled off six-straight points to gain the lead. Cumberland (Tenn.) came within one point of tying things (19-18) until 6-0 run by Siena ended the match with a 25-18 decision in the third.
SHU def. Midway (Ky.), 3-0
The Saints jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first set, but the Eagles responded with a 4-0 run bring them within one point of tying. Siena would never relinquish the lead and took the 1-0 lead after scoring five-straight points for a 25-15 outcome. Midway (Ky.) hopped out to a 4-1 lead before the Saints tied the score up at five points before taking the 6-5 lead. With a 22-20 lead, SHU tallied the final three points to in the set to build a 2-0 lead. The Eagles used a 6-0 run to gain a 14-10 advantage. The Saints rallied with a 4-0 run of their own to tie things up at 14. Midway regained the lead 18-15 but Siena used a 3-0 run to tie things up again. Both teams traded points to a deadlock at 20 points. The Saints scored two straight for the lead, but the Eagles fought back and forced extra points by evening the score at 24 and again at 25. Siena Heights then ended the match with two points to capture the 3-0 win.
SAINT LEADERS
SHU def. Cumberland (Tenn.), 3-0
Kills: Gomez (10), Bryce Johnson (5), Shevin Blades (4)
Assists: Keegan Crawford (10)
Digs: Evan Cashen (7), Emilier De Jesus (6)
Blocks: Johnson (9 = 3 BS + 6 BA)
SHU def. Midway (Ky.), 3-0
Kills: Johnson (11), Gomez (9), Cashen (6)
Assists: Crawford (32)
Digs: De Jesus (22), Johnson (12), Crawford (10)
Blocks: Jakob Pickett (4 BA)
THE OPPOSITION
Cumberland
Kills: Mason Chambers (7); Assists: Brian Hogg (15); Digs: Caleb Ginnings (11).
Midway
Kills: Adrian Constant (17); Assists: Gavin James Andaya (26); Digs: Victor Bazzo (16).
UP NEXT
The Saints will wrap up their time at the Thomas More Invitational tomorrow when they face host TMU at 11:00 a.m. and Reinhardt at 1:00 p.m.
