ST. DAVIDS, Pa.— With an efficient three-set win over the visiting Widener University Pride, Eastern University Men's Volleyball 12-12, 3-2) took an important step toward qualifying for the upcoming MAC Men's Volleyball Championships. The Eagles also earned a four-set non-league win over the Bloodhounds of John Jay College (12-10). Colby Arvesen finished with ten kills to lead a balanced Eastern attack in the Widener match, and Kaodi Wokocha picked up a season-high 18 kills in the nightcap. 

In the opening set, the Eagles jumped to a 14-7 lead, but the Pride (7-17, 1-5) closed the gap to 16-14 with a couple good service runs. Edwin Broussard and Connor Tucholski picked up a big block to change the momentum and put Eastern up three.

Another run from the guests closed the gap to a single point. Wokocha recorded a kill for a sideout and then served two-straight for a 25-21 win. Wokocha finished with two total aces. His first ended the opening set, and his second closed out the match.

The Eagles jumped to an 8-3 lead in the second. Though Widener closed the gap, a big service run from Arvesen built the lead back to eight and the Eagles were able to side out to a 25-19 win. Wokocha had four kills in the set and delivered for the final two points of the frame.

Though the Eagles never trailed in the third, the final set was close throughout. Widener tied the match at 22 before the Eagles secured the win with the final three points. With Eastern up just one point, Symir Byrd made a pair of incredible digs and delivered an assist to Edwin Broussard for a 24-22 lead. Wokocha scorched his jump serve for the final point.

Ronan Landis had 28 assists and three kills, and Landon Mattiace hit .467 with nine kills and six blocks. Broussard had seven kills on only ten swings.

Playing their third match in 24 hours, the Eagles struggled to pull away from the scrappy Bloodhounds. The two teams traded points throughout the latter half of the opening set, and both teams had set points with the Eagles finally carving a 29-27 win on a kill from Broussard. Arvesen and Wokocha each had five kills. 

After a 25-21 win in the second, the Eagles seemed poised to close the evening out, but the visiting Bloodhounds had other plans. They erased an 18-11 Eastern lead and went up 22-19 on only two servers. The Eagles leveled the score at 23, but the Bloodhounds forced a fourth with a sideout and a point on serve. 

With their attention grabbed, the Eagles hit an impressive .435 in the final set to close out the match with a 25-17 win. Landis played in the fourth and had three kills, seven assists, and a block. 

Byrd had 19 digs and Kadin Kolstad added 10. Josh Hraboskey had 30 assists and Mattiace finished with four kills and eight blocks. 

The Eagles return to MAC play with a critical test at Misericordia on Wednesday evening. The Cougars are 1-3 in the league and will play at Arcadia tomorrow.