OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The No. 12 Stevenson University men's volleyball team opened its home schedule with a pair of victories in a tri-match played at Owings Mills Gymnasium Friday evening.  The Mustangs defeated Mount St. Joseph, a team receiving votes in the latest AVCA Division III poll, 3-1, then recorded a 3-0 sweep of Wilson College.

Against the Lions, Stevenson (4-2) won by scores of 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20.  Against Wilson (1-3), the set scores were 25-16, 25-16, 25-9.

In the opener against Mount St. Joseph (2-1), sophomore Landon Shorts finished with 20 kills and nine digs, while senior Michael Fehrs added 12 kills.  Sophomore Jason Gardner led the Mustangs defensively with 14 digs, while Fehrs totaled 12 and freshman Derek Tangorra 11.  Senior Kyle Johnson handed out 47 assists as Stevenson hit .236 as a team.

In the first set, Stevenson trailed 22-18 before four straight points tied the frame on a block by Shorts and Ellis.  The set was deadlocked 23-23 before the Lions recorded the final two points to take a 1-0 lead.  The Lions opened up an 11-5 lead in the second set before Stevenson climbed back in to tie the set 19-19.  The set was tied 22-22 before kills by Fehrs and Shorts and a MSJ attack error tied the match 1-1.

Stevenson never trailed in the third set and opened up a 19-13 lead following a Mount St. Joseph attack error.  The guests drew within 23-20 late, but an Ellis kill closed out the set.  In the fourth, the Lions built an early 11-8 lead before three straight points capped by a Shorts service ace tied the set.  Trailing 14-13, Stevenson ran off five straight points to take an 18-14 lead on an MSJ attack error.  A service error by the guests closed out the match.

Stevenson hit at least .200 in each of the final three sets while limiting the Lions to .139 hitting in the third and .118 in the fourth.  The Mustangs had six service aces to MSJ's two and recorded eight blocks while the visitors posted six.

In the second match of the day, Stevenson held the Phoenix to -.014 hitting while hitting at a season-high .395 clip, including .579 in the third set.  The Mustangs also racked up 10 service aces in the win.

Shorts again led Stevenson with 15 kills, hitting at a .519 clip, while Fehrs posted seven kills and Ellis six, with Ellis having no errors on 10 attempts for a .600 hitting percentage.  Freshman Nathan Bosse added five kills.

Johnson handed out 31 assists and also led the hosts in digs with eight, while Shorts, Gardner and Tangorra had six apiece.  Fehrs finished with four aces in the contest.

Stevenson is back in action twice tomorrow at home.  The Mustangs host Marian at noon and Elmira at 6:00 pm at Owings Mills Gymnasium.