CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Feb. 1, 2025) — The University of Charleston men's volleyball team dominated the weekend with back-to-back straight-set victories over King University, winning Friday night's match 25-17, 25-20, 25-11 and following up with another sweep on Saturday, 25-18, 25-18, 25-16, at the Wehrle Innovation Center.
Charleston (3-6, 0-0 EIVA) controlled both matches from start to finish, displaying efficiency on offense while limiting King (0-6, 0-0 Conference Carolinas) to subpar hitting percentages across the series.
How it Happened:
Friday Night Victory-
The Golden Eagles opened the weekend with a dominant performance, hitting .329 as a team while holding King to a -.027 attack percentage. Xander Bomert led the offense with 12 kills on a .381 clip, while Kai Cousins was highly efficient, posting seven kills at a .667 percentage. Felipe Mendes added four kills, and setter Paul Stommel distributed 30 assists while recording five digs.
Charleston established control early, hitting .588 in the opening set. The second set saw King push back slightly, but Charleston capitalized on errors to secure the frame. The Golden Eagles closed the match with a dominant third-set performance, allowing just 11 points while holding King to a -.077 hitting percentage.
Saturday Sweep-
Charleston continued its dominance on Saturday, improving its offensive efficiency to a .434 team hitting percentage while limiting King to .130. Mendes again led the attack with 17 kills, hitting an impressive .519. Bomert followed with eight kills, while Max Nissen contributed six kills on a .556 hitting percentage.
Stommel facilitated another strong offensive outing, tallying 34 assists while adding five digs. Defensively, the Golden Eagles posted five team blocks, with Mendes and Braxton Francis contributing at the net.
Charleston dictated the pace from the start, hitting .393 in the first set before taking full control in the second with a .464 efficiency. The Golden Eagles closed out the match in the third with another powerful offensive display, posting a .444 hitting percentage to secure the weekend sweep.
By the Numbers-
Over the two-match series, Charleston recorded 83 total kills compared to King's 42, while also leading in hitting percentage (.385 to .053). The Golden Eagles posted a 12-7 advantage in service aces and controlled the net with 11 total blocks compared to King's six.
Up Next:
Charleston will look to build on its momentum when it travels to Fairfield, Connecticut, to take on Sacred Heart University on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. in the William H. Pitt Athletic & Convocation Center.
