Two of the last three unbeaten men's volleyball teams in NCAA I-II met tonight in the Wheeler Center with first place in the Conference Carolinas standings on the line, and the Pfeiffer University Falcons emerged victorious over Belmont Abbey by a 3-2 score this evening before a raucous crowd of 517. The Falcons won by scores of 25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 28-30 and 15-12.  The Falcons improve to 5-0 overall and in conference play, while the Crusaders lose for the first time as they drop to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the league.

Belmont Abbey hit .229 for the match as senior outside hitter Nolan Albrecht led all players with 26 kills. He hit .356 for the match as he amassed 26 kills on 59 attacks with just five errors. Justin Snyder added 11 kills as he hit .625 for the match.  Derek Sullivan handed out 47 assists with Robert Valentine totaling a pair. 

At the service line, the Crusaders recorded eight aces, with six of those coming in the second set. Snyder reeled off three straight in the second set to push the Crusaders on top after Pfeiffer took the early lead.

The defense recorded 54 digs as Valentine, the libero, led all players with 19. Sullivan finished with seven and Robert Nixon added six. Albrecht and Brennan Beyner both finished with five.

The Crusaders dominated the net to the tune of 11 total blocks, nine solo, as Snyder and Beyner both had three solo with Nixon adding two.  Beyner and Albrecht had a block assist.

Belmont Abbey is back in action Friday night at Barton. First serve is 7:00 p.m.