Reinhardt sweeps Bluefield in straight sets on the road

Bluefield, VA. - Reinhardt defeated Bluefield 3-0 on Friday at The Dome, earning a road sweep by set scores of 25-19, 25-19, 25-21. The Eagles controlled key stretches of all three sets and finished with 75 team points in front of an attendance of 87 in Bluefield, Virginia.

The match opened with Bluefield pushing in front early. Kills from Kari Williams and Mason Lloyd helped the home side build a 10-4 lead in the first set, but Reinhardt answered with a sharp turnaround. Jakub Aniolczyk led the response, putting away multiple late kills and adding a service ace as the Eagles closed the set on a decisive run for a 25-19 win.

Reinhardt carried that momentum into the second set. The Eagles held the lead through the middle portion of the frame, with Decklan Fongbemi making a major impact at the net and in transition. Fongbemi contributed several kills and blocks during the stretch that helped Reinhardt stay in control, and Aniolczyk again delivered late, recording several kills to preserve another 25-19 set victory.

The third set was the tightest of the night, with both teams trading points well into the closing rallies. Gabriel Gutierrez helped Reinhardt create separation late, including a service ace sequence that moved the Eagles in front. Reinhardt finished the sweep, 25-21, after its late push forced the final Bluefield error.

Aniolczyk produced the top individual line for Reinhardt with 17 kills on 31 attempts and no errors, good for a .548 hitting percentage. He added one ace, two digs, two blocks and a team-high 19 points. Fongbemi posted nine kills on 13 swings with just one error for a .615 hitting percentage, along with three blocks and 10.5 points. Gutierrez also had nine kills, seven digs, one ace and 10.5 points.

As a team, Reinhardt finished with 45 kills, three aces and seven blocks while committing nine attack errors. Bluefield totaled 38 kills, two aces and three blocks. Williams paced Bluefield with 15 kills and 15.5 points, while Lloyd added 12 kills and eight digs. Reinhardt's efficiency and late-set execution made the difference, especially after Bluefield's fast start in the opening set.