BELMONT, N.C. -- Zach Puentes tallied 14 kills and Ryan Charles added six kills and a career-high nine digs, but Belmont Abbey fell just short in a spirited battle with Charleston Saturday. The Golden Eagles rallied from a 2-1 deficit in sets for the 3-2 (25-16, 16-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-12) victory.

The Crusaders fall to 12-4 overall, while Charleston improves to 9-11.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Matthew Staskunas and Joseph Morris each tallied seven kills, combining to hit .292. Morris dished out 28 assists and had six digs and four block assists.
• The Crusaders served three aces, one each by Staskunas, Puentes and Ethan Rehmann.
• Rehmann helped The Abbey to 11 team blocks with six, while Jibriel Elhaddad had five.
• Alejandro Leon tallied six assists and seven digs from his libero position.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey returns to conference play next weekend with a key trip to Eastern North Carolina.
• The 7-1 Crusaders travel to 6-2 Mount Olive on Friday and 4-4 Barton on Saturday.