MADISON, WIS. - Men's Volleyball returned to the Todd Wehr Edgedome Thursday night for their nonconference finale. They faced off with the Westminster Blue Jays. The Blue Jays (9-9) rallied to claim a 3-2 (23-25, 15-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-13) thriller over the Eagles.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- An 8-2 rally kicked off the match on the right footing for Edgewood College. Five unanswered pushed Westminster within 12-10. The Blue Jays hung tough, pushing ahead 22-21 late with four in a row punctuated by back-to-back aces, but the Eagles offense clinched the first set with a 4-1 rally featuring four kills.
 
- After the two teams battled early, the Eagles took over the second set. A 12-4 burst pushed Edgewood College ahead 18-9 as they claimed a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
- Westminster built up a 7-4 lead to open set three, and the three-point edge held after both teams tallied three points in a row. A late 5-2 run by the Eagles pushed them within 20-19, but the Blue Jays stayed alive in the match with a 6-2 sprint.
 
- The squads duked it out back and forth in the fourth set as they jockeyed for advantage. Westminster landed a strong blow with a 7-2 sprint, holding a 19-15 edge late. A 6-2 answer propelled Edgewood College ahead 23-22, but three points straight from the Blue Jays forced a fifth set.
 
- The Eagles offense put momentum in their court with four kills in a 5-1 start to the tiebreaker frame. Westminster battled back to a 7-7 tie as the two squads jockeyed for position. The Blue Jays landed the final blow with a 4-1 run featuring a clutch well-placed ace to complete the comeback.
 
- Edgewood College held slight advantages in kills (60-to-50) and hitting percentage (.212-to-.023). Westminster earned slim edges in aces (6-to-5), blocks (11-to-10), and digs (51-to-44).
 
- Jack Keesling posted 16 kills, five blocks, and two aces with a .310 hitting percentage on 29 attempts.
 
- Ryder Hill-Zastrow swung for 16 kills on 32 attempts for a .375 hitting percentage.
 
- Carsyn Stringfellow tallied 12 kills and eight digs.
 
- Gavin Patterson and Jack Mullane earned 10 digs apiece.
 
- Will Gehrke recorded 48 assists and four blocks. Owen Hartjes contributed nine kills and four blocks.
 
- Derrick Turner paced both teams with 18 kills and four aces.
 
- Jake Schawo-McAlister fueled the Blue Jays offense with 43 assists and claimed 16 digs.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 60 kills matched the single-game record for the Eagles.
 
- Stringfellow's 12 kills, eight digs, and three blocks were all personal bests
 
- Keesling's 16 kills and five blocks were new high watermarks for the freshman.
 
- Gehrke's 48 assists and four blocks were season highs for the setter.
 
- The meeting was the first between Westminster and Edgewood College in men's volleyball.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles kick off the rest of their NACC slate Saturday. They'll travel to Lisle, Ill. to face off with the Benedictine Eagles, receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll. First serve is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.