By Nick Porter

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Southern Virginia University men's volleyball team opened the 2018 season on Friday and Saturday, falling to No. 9 Carthage and Lancaster Bible beating host Wittenberg College and Penn St.-Behrend. Daniel Aina was named to the All-Tournament team. 

In the first match of the year against No. 9 Carthage, the Knights (2-2) fell in three sets, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21. Both teams faired evenly in the attack, with each team notching 28 kills. The Knights struggled with 16 service errors and totaled six blocks while the Red Men blocked the Knights 14 times.

The first win of the season came during game two on Friday, with a 3-1 win over Wittenberg College. The Knights won games 1, 2, and 4 but fell 25-22 in game three. Southern Virginia recorded a .231 kill percentage with 48 kills. First-year Nahuel Recobarrer recorded 17 kills in the win.

In the first game on Saturday the Knights swept Penn St.-Behrend 25-16, 25-21, 25-16. Paul Clark led the attack with 11 kills.

After winning set one of the fourth match, the Knights fell 27-25 in set two and dropped the third set. Southern Virginia tied the match 2-2 with a 27-25 win in set four but fell in the fifth 15-13. The Knights recorded 63 kills, one less than the Chargers, led by Recobarrer's 19 kills and Clark's 16. Kaipo Tagaloa recorded 49 assists and Daniel Aina put up 22 digs.

Aina totaled 62 digs in the four matches as the defensive specialist. 

The Knights will host Arcadia in the home opener on Friday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Knight Sports Arena. Continental Volleyball Conference play will begin the next Friday.