BEVERLY, Mass. - After missing the last 18 games due to a hand injury, Stevenson men's volleyball sophomore Austin Jacoby (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) returned to total 26 kills, 15 digs and three service aces to lead the Mustangs to wins over No. 11 Vassar and Endicott Saturday at the Post Center on the first day of the Endicott Invitational.
With a 25-15, 25-27, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13 victory over Vassar, the Mustangs (12-9) posted their first victory over a ranked opponent in program history.
In the opener, Stevenson rallied from a 2-0 deficit to post a 17-25, 18-25, 25-15, 25-16, 17-15 victory over the host Gulls.
The Mustangs have now won five of their last six.
Jacoby had 14 kills and hit .268 in the win over Vassar (12-8) while sophomore Eddy Klepper (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) had 16 kills and hit .438 to go along with five block assists. Freshman Wesley Richardson (York, Pa./Central York) totaled 14 kills, one shy of his career-high, as the trio combined for 44 of Stevenson's 65 kills.
Freshman Kyle Wisner (York, Pa./Central York) added eight kills and three block assists while freshman Patrick Devine (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) had 20 digs. Freshman David Moler (York, Pa./Central York) totaled 52 assists and 10 digs and sophomore Jon Martin (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) amassed a season-high 16 digs, three short of his career-high.
Vassar, who entered the game ranked at No. 11 in the AVCA Division III Coaches' Poll released on March 20, was led by 17 kills from Joe Pyne and 15 digs from Colin Fearn-Johnson. John Konow totaled 54 assists.
In the opener against Endicott, Wisner totaled 14 kills to lead four players who had at least 10. Jacoby added 12, Klepper 11 and Richardson 10. Freshman John Crinion (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) had eight kills. Jacoby also had two service aces and Klepper added three block assists.
Martin posted 10 digs against the Gulls while Devine and sophomore Adam Thatcher (Bel Air, Md/C. Milton Wright) each had nine.
Moler had 52 assists, six digs and four block assists.
Jerem Siden added 15 kills for Endicott (11-12) while Matt Devendorf had 12. Jeremy Schlosser totaled 31 assists and nine digs.
Stevenson wraps-up competition at the Endicott Invitational on Sunday with games versus Hilbert and Sage beginning at 10:00 a.m.
