DUDLEY, MA — The Northern Vermont University-Johnson men's volleyball team captured their first victory versus the Lynx of Lesley University on Saturday afternoon. The Badgers forced the Lynx to a fifth and final set, emerging with a 15-9 advantage to seal the 3-2 victory. Johnson won by scores of 25-22, 25-16, and 15-9 to improve to 1-13 overall.
The Badgers were led by Jesse Streeter (Jericho, VT) with nine kills in the match. Freshman Wyatt Moberg (Acton, MA) contributed eight kills, 18 digs, and three aces. Randy Willette (Wolfeboro, NH) added seven kills and eight aces for the Badgers.
Split 1-1 entering the third set, the Lynx took control early as the Badgers struggled to find a rhythm. Moberg attacked an open pocket in the far corner, earning the kill and regaining control of the serve for the Badgers. An ace from Randy Willette (Wolfeboro, NH) and strong net defense gave Johnson three fast points to pull back within nine points and force a Lesley timeout. Johnson fought with the Lynx throughout the third set but fell by a score of 25-14.
The Badgers opened up the fourth set firing on all cylinders, forcing Lesley to call an early timeout as Johnson jumped out to a 4-1 lead. The two teams battled early in the set before a kill by Moberg gave the Badgers control of the serve, sparking a 5-0 run by Johnson. A kill by Streeter and a block by senior Nicholas Audet (Morrisville, VT) extended the lead to eight points. The Lynx continued to fight back but the Badgers would not be denied, closing out the set with back-to-back aces by sophomore Ryan Willette (Wolfeboro, NH) and a kill by senior Austin Walters (Grantham, NH) to take the fourth by a score of 25-16 tied at two sets each.
Johnson continued to set the pace in the fifth set, jumping out to an early 5-0 advantage. After a kill by Walters, the Lynx tried to close the gap and fought their way back into the battle down 11-9. Capitalizing on errors and miscommunication by the Lynx on defense, the Badgers closed out the fifth set on a 4-0 run to take the set 15-9, sealing their first victory of the season.