FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. --- The Tusculum men's volleyball team won its third-straight contest via sweep after taking down Emmanuel on Friday (Jan. 23) for the second time this season.
The Pioneers (3-1) picked up their first road win of the season, sweeping the Lions (0-3) by scores of 28-26, 25-16, 25-21.
This marks TU's best start to a season in program history through four contests. The previous best was 1-3, which occurred in four seasons (2020, 2023, 2024, 2025).
For Emmanuel, Aiden Feeney tallied 11 kills, while Matthieu Bataille added seven kills on a .583 hitting percentage. Greg Bodus distributed 29 assists, as Robert Hege and Thijs Van der Wal recorded the service aces for the Lions. Defensively, Josh Staehler scooped up 14 digs and Hege took part in four blocks.
Reef Mathis had a career outing, landing 15 kills on a .333 clip with six digs. Adam Svendsen tied his personal best with 12 strikes. Rounding out the offense were Morgan Makovec (7), Aiden Roper (4), Caleb Hammann (2), and Riley Wisniakowski (2). The latter dished out 36 assists, while Makovec registered two aces, both season-bests. Wisniakowski recorded the first double-double of the season for the Pioneers with his 10 digs. At the net, Svendsen was credited with a career-high five total blocks, just ahead of Hammann's four.
Emmanuel hit .096 as a team with 32 kills and 21 errors on 115 total attempts. Tusculum hit .233 with 42 kills, 18 errors, and 103 total attacks. The Pioneers led the Lions in assists (41-31), service aces (3-2), digs (47-37), and total blocks (10-8).
The opening frame featured 15 ties and four lead changes, setting the tone for the match. Emmanuel hit a match-best .179 in the first set, while Tusculum had four blocks on the other side of the net. Neither team could create separation in the early going, as the foes stayed within a two-point span until TU's 15-12 edge. The Pioneers were only able to grow their lead to four (18-14) before the Lions mounted their comeback attempt. Emmanuel went on a 6-2 spurt to tie the set at 20-all with the teams exchanging blows. EU spoiled three set-points for TU as Svendsen and Hammann combined for the final two scores.
The second set was a much less tense affair as all the back-and-forth occurred until Tusculum reached double figures. TU then doubled up the home team, going 15-7 in the final stretch. Emmanuel hit an even. 000 in the frame. Mathis landed five kills in the set, while Makovec added three, clinching the set with back-to-back aces.
Tusculum hit a match-best .250 in the third set, tallying 17 kills in the span. The final frame saw 10 ties and five lead changes. The teams were not able to create a margin until TU had back-to-back kills to lead 17-14. Emmanuel fought back but the Pioneers surged again to create a 20-17 score. The Lions went on a 4-1 spurt to tie the set at 21-all. But Tusculum used three attack errors, including a pair of blocks, and a kill by Svendsen to clinch the match.
Tusculum will have a week off before traveling to Thomas More on Friday (Jan. 30) for a 2 p.m. match against the Saints.
