LANCASTER, Pa.—The Elizabethtown men's volleyball team opened up the 2024 season on the road at Lancaster Bible, Saturday in a tri-match. The Blue Jays were swept by the hosts before falling, 3-1 to Penn St.-Altoona.

Sophomore, Logan Smith had a career day recording 15 kills against Lancaster Bible before upping his career-high to 19 kills against Penn St.-Altoona.

LANCASTER BIBLE 3; ELIZABETHTOWN 0
Elizabethtown started off strong in their first set of the 2024 season against Lancaster Bible. The Blue Jays jumped out to a 7-2 lead following multiple Charger attack errors and aces from Nate Seegar and Mason Boyer. Two consecutive kills from Nick Chapman extended Etown's lead to 10-3. After trading points, LBC had come within three of Etown. Lancaster Bible then went on a 7-1 run to take the lead at 21-19. Two Charger errors tied up the score at 21-21. A Logan Smith kill and another Charger error brought the Blue Jays to 23 but LBC finished the set with a kill to win, 25-23.

Lancaster Bible started the second set out in front, 6-4 after three points in a row. Kills from Smith kept the Blue Jays within two of the Chargers. Chapman smacked down a kill before adding an ace as Etown trailed by just one at 15-14. LBC tallied four in a row before adding another three in a row to come within just one set point. Smith and Chapman each recorded one more kill before an Etown error ended the set with the Chargers winning, 25-19.

The Chargers kept up their momentum going in set three as they jumped out to a 7-1 lead after six consecutive points. Kills from Chapman and Smith left Etown trailing by four. Three more kills from Smith brought the score to 20-16 as Lancaster Bible continued to lead. Trey Weedon recorded a kill before the Chargers had two service errors. Two final kills from Lancaster Bible earned them the 25-20 win over Etown to complete the 3-0 sweep.

PENN ST.-ALTOONA 3; ELIZABETHTOWN 1  
Penn St.-Altoona started off set one with a 7-4 lead after four consecutive points. Elizabethtown then recorded five in a row to take a 13-11 lead. Two aces from Chapman, Lions errors and a block by Smith and Weedon gave Etown the lead. The two teams traded points keeping the score tight. Elizabethtown then went on a 6-0 run to come within one of set point. Smith and Dylan Holland added kills on the run. Altoona added three more points before Etown won the set 25-22.

To start the second half, the Lions and Blue Jays traded points. PSU-Altoona went up 15-9 on Etown after rattling off five points in a row. Two Lions errors sandwiched an ace from Chapman to bring the score to 12-15. Etown continued to trail by at least three through the end of the set and ultimately fell, 25-19.

Penn St.-Altoona again started out the next set with a lead as they jumped to a 5-1 lead. Two Elizabethtown errors sandwiched a Lions kill as they extended their lead, 10-5. A kill from Smith and Chapman left Etown trailing by three at 17-14. Alan Lisman, Chapman, and Smith recorded kills to bring the Jays score to 19. Altoona tallied the final two kills to win, 25-19 in set three.

To start set four, Elizabethtown took a 4-1 lead with the help from Lisman and Smith. Etown held onto their lead after adding three in a row. Penn St.-Altoona took over the lead after going on a 5-1 run to pull ahead, 18-16. Etown trailed by one after kills from Holland, Smith, and Boyer. Smith added the final kill for the Blue Jays before the Lions ended it with a 25-22 win.

Elizabethtown will host Cairn on January 25^th at 8:00 pm for their season home opener.