Reinhardt sweeps Carolina University 3-0 behind Aniolczyk’s all-around effort

Bluefield, VA - Reinhardt University opened Saturday's nonconference men's volleyball match with control and never let go, defeating Carolina University in straight sets, 25-11, 25-22, 25-10, at The Dome in Bluefield, Virginia.

The Eagles finished with 32 kills, 12 service aces and a .418 attack percentage while holding Carolina to a .048 mark. Reinhardt scored 75 total points to Carolina's 43 and dictated the match from the opening run, using aggressive serving and efficient offense to take command in each set.

Jakub Aniolczyk led the Eagles with nine kills, five service aces and three block assists, producing the match's first big surge. He delivered three straight aces as Reinhardt jumped in front 4-0 in the first set, and the advantage only grew from there. Quintin Fongbemi added a kill off a Michele Fassetta assist to help push the lead to 12-5, and a block by Decklan Fongbemi and Aniolczyk stretched the margin to 20-7. Andrea Forcina closed the set with a service ace for the 25-11 win.

The second set was Carolina's most competitive stretch. A service ace by Hayden Lichty helped Reinhardt stay within striking distance early, and the set remained tight into the closing points. Reinhardt regained control behind key late swings from Juan Miguel Nino Bonilla and Aniolczyk, while Forcina delivered a pair of aces in the middle-to-late stages to keep the Eagles in front. Carolina setter Kai Jamerson was credited with 16 assists and three digs, but a bad set on the final rally ended the set at 25-22.

Reinhardt quickly removed any suspense in the third set. Bonilla produced multiple early kills as the Eagles built a 10-3 lead, and Aniolczyk added another late ace as the margin widened to 20-9. Carolina never mounted a response, and the match ended on a service error by Fritz Hall. Bonilla finished with six kills and two block assists, while Quintin Fongbemi also had six kills and three block assists. Sam Gruver led Carolina with seven kills.

The win came in front of an announced attendance of 53 and gave Reinhardt a clean finish to its trip to Bluefield. The Eagles controlled the match by 14 points in the first set, three in the second and 15 in the third, a reflection of how firmly they handled the opening and closing stretches of the afternoon.