Charleston, W.Va. – The Golden Eagles men's volleyball team is 11-0 heading into EIVA conference play. Charleston has yet to drop a set making it a perfect start to the 2023 season.  
 
The Basics:
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: UC  3, Wittenberg 0
Records: UC 10-0 (0-0 EIVA), Wittenberg 7-5
 
How it Happened:
The Golden Eagles entered Thursday's first match looking for two victories before entering conference play next week. Set one was off to a slow start for Charleston as they went side out for side out with the Tigers of Wittenberg. The Golden Eagles struggled to find their groove, allowing the Tigers to extend the set with Charleston finally taking the victory 26-24.
 
The Golden Eagles needed a major reset in their three-minute break, and that is exactly what they did. Charleston came out firing on all cylinders and after five consecutive kills, the Golden Eagles were leading over the Tigers 12-5. The Tigers tried to battle back, but Charleston quickly lead had a ten-point lead, 20-10. From there the Golden Eagles continued to coast to the finish line, taking set two 25-13. Charleston posted and impressive .588% hitting percentage compared to Wittenberg's .1%. The middles were dominate for Charleston in the set, making five of the eleven kills.
 
Wittenberg came out not ready to lay down in set three and they showed that when they took a 10-4 lead over Charleston. The sudden deficit caused Coach Reynolds to make a substitution, bringing in sophomore Luuk Hoge Bavel. The outside went back to serve after a Golden Eagle side out and he brought Charleston back within two-points after his service run. Charleston tied the set at 14-14, and after two back-to-back kills from Hoge Bavel the Golden Eagles were back in the driver's seat with a 16-14 lead. Charleston only allowed the Tigers to score two more in the match, closing out the set 25-16, completing the match sweep over Wittenberg.
 
Charleston completed the match 31-61 with a .410% hitting percentage with only six errors. With the shutout victory Charleston improves to 10-0 with a perfect 30-0 in sets.
 
The Basics:
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: UC  3, Rio 0
Records: UC 11-0 (0-0 EIVA), Rio Grande 2-5
 
How it Happened:
Charleston entered the evening match with a victory on the day while the Red Storm suffered a loss to the Wittenberg Tigers prior to the match. Several new Golden Eagle faces got the start in the 8PM contest against Rio Grande.
 
Both teams battled point for point at the start of the set but after several errors by the Red Storm the Golden Eagles were able to slowly pull away, 12-8. From their both teams traded several points once again but three kills in a row by the Golden Eagles gave them the 19-13 lead. Rio Grande went on to capitalize off a few Golden Eagle errors, but the Charleston lead was too large to overcome as the Red Storm fell 25-19 in set one.
 
Set two was much of the same, the Red Storm and the Golden Eagles trading side outs, but Charleston found their spark at 7-9 when they went on a four-point run and took a six-point advantage over their opponent. Charleston used their vantage and continued to excel past the Red Storm, taking a nine-point lead, 18-9 after several Rio errors. From there the Golden Eagles inched toward the finish line, picking up several kills by multiple different Golden Eagles along the way. Charleston closed out set two 25-17, converting 12 of 28 attempts with four errors.
 
The Red Storm came out ready to battle in set three, fighting point for point with Charleston taking the set to 5-5. Charleston's Ian Vazquez recorded the next point with a kill, and that was the turning point for the Golden Eagles. Opposite hitter Jake Vorburger recorded back-to-back kills followed by three Paul Stommel service aces, giving Charleston the 11-5 advantage. The next few points were shared back and forth but Charleston went on a small three point run and the set quickly became 19-10 UC. Charleston was full steam ahead as they neared the destination, outscoring the Red Storm 6-3 in the final stretch of the match. Charleston closed out the set 25-13, picking up their second win of the day.
 
Jake Vorburger lead the Golden Eagles with nine kills while Paul Stommel collected 21assists.
 
Up Next:
Charleston will host EIVA opponent Harvard for two matches next weekend. Game one is set for a 7PM first serve on Friday, February 17^th and game two will take place on Saturday, February 18^th at 2PM.