ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – After a slow start, Eastern University Men's Volleyball controlled the action in the final three sets to pick up a four-set win over the visiting Wilkes University Colonels. Rodney Quarles pounded out 13 kills to lead a balanced Eastern attack. 

Eastern (5-5) grabbed control of the match with a decisive run in the third set. Wilkes had won the first set , 25-23, and the Eagles had claimed the second set,25-19. The Eagles held a 17-14 lead in the third. Rookie outside hitter Symir Byrd stepped back to the service line, and the Eagles pulled away. Max Bagileo and Josiah Cash had kills on either side of a Byrd ace. After a Wilkes substitution to improve serve receive, the Eagles got a kill from Lucas Adam and a termination of a free ball by Josiah Cash. Byrd's second ace of the run took the Eagles to set point. 

The Colonels (6-2) earned a sideout and a point, but the Eagles finished the third set up 25-16. Eastern hit .400 as a team and had six different players record kills in the decisive third set.  

Chris Miller served the first four points of the fourth set. While Wilkes tied the set at 10-10 and 12-12, the visitors were never able to grab the lead. Quarles had two kills and a massive solo block in a 7-to-1 run that put the Eagles up for good. The Eagles converted six of their final seven sideout opportunities to win 25-19. 

While both teams finished with three aces, the Eagles were more consistent in both serve receive and in serving. The Colonels finished the match with 20 serving errors, while the Eagles only had 14.

Byrd, Adam, and Bagileo each finished with nine kills. Jeremiah Pha had 12 digs and 15 assists, and Max Bushong added 12 digs and five assists. Miller posted 21 assists. 

Jckson Shafer finished with a match-high 17 kills to lead Wilkes. 

The Eagles will play a pair of matches at Ramapo on Friday.