OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Led by 14 kills and nine digs from freshman Jon Martin (Lititz, Pa./Warwick), the Stevenson men's volleyball team took No. 8-ranked Philadelphia Biblical to overtime in three of four sets, but the Crimson Eagles managed to stave off the upset, edging out a 26-24, 27-25, 25-27, 25-19 victory Friday at Owings Mills Gymnasium.

The Mustangs (18-5, 7-4 Metro) battled through 29 ties and 12 lead changes, matching Philadelphia Biblical in almost every statistic, but they could not stop Crimson Eagle All-American Justin Brubaker who totaled 24 kills and 14 digs, both game-highs.

Both teams posted a .149 hitting percentage, 12 service errors and 10.0 total team blocks while Philadelphia Biblical held a slim edge in digs, 51-49.

The difference was the Crimson Eagle offense which totaled 55 kills and 154 attempts compared to 41 kills and 121 attempts for Stevenson. Brubaker and Noah Prickett combined for 38 of those 55 kills, 23 digs and six blocks. The two also totaled 24 of their team's 32 attack errors.

After Philadelphia Biblical took a 16-11 lead in the first set, the Mustangs rallied to tie the set at 21-21 and both teams exchanged points until the Crimson Eagles pulled out the victory on back-to-back kills from Brubaker and Prickett who had 11 of PBU's 17 kills in the set.

In a role reversal of the first set, Stevenson took a 16-11 lead in the second before Philadelphia Biblical rallied to tie the set at 22-22. The Mustangs had a chance to close the deal after two-straight kills from Martin and sophomore Rob Kryger (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa), but the Crimson Eagles tied the set for the fifth time at 24-24 before putting it away on back-to-back kills from Prickett to go up 2-0.

The third set featured 10 ties and five lead changes, the last coming at 25-25 before Stevenson picked up its first set win against Philadelphia Biblical since Mar. 17, 2007 on a kill from freshman Kalani Soeda (Kaneohe, Hawaii/LeJardin Academy) and an attack error by the Crimson Eagles' Drew Dillon.

That year, the Mustangs lost 3-1 in the NEAC championship game after winning a 3-1 decision on Feb. 24, 2007. They also lost 3-2 on Feb. 10, 2007.

The fourth set belonged to Philadelphia Biblical as it never trailed and led by as many as eight at 22-14. Stevenson has six attack errors, four service errors and two reception errors.

Martin was the lone Mustang with at least 10 kills as freshman Austin Jacoby (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) had eight to go along with eight digs. Freshman Eddy Klepper (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) also had eight kills while adding seven block assists.

Sophomore Kyle Diller (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) totaled five kills 32 assists and 11 digs.

Stevenson returns to action on Saturday with two games versus Pfeiffer and Hunter beginning at 10:00 a.m.