Newberry, S.C. – The King University men's volleyball team earned a gritty five-set road win on Wednesday night, taking down Newberry College 3–2 inside Eleazer Arena. The Tornado (3–5, 0–2 Conference Carolinas) rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat the Wolves (1–8, 0–1 DI Independent) by scores of 23–25, 21–25, 25–19, 25–22, 16–14.
A crowd of 124 fans witnessed a back-and-forth battle that saw King hit .257 as a team and rack up 13 total blocks. The Tornado showed resilience and poise, clawing back after dropping the first two sets to secure their third win of the season.
Set One: Newberry Edges Opener
King came out swinging in the first set, hitting .250 behind strong play from Carson Pliapol and Alessandro Fermani. Despite a late push, Newberry held off the Tornado to take the opener 25–23.
Set Two: Wolves Extend Lead
Newberry continued their momentum in the second set, hitting a match-best .600. King battled to stay close, but the Wolves pulled away late to win 25–21 and take a 2–0 lead.
Set Three: Tornado Respond
King flipped the script in the third, locking in defensively and holding Newberry to a .143 hitting percentage. Fermani and Dalton Claiborne sparked the offense, while Joao Pedro Ribeiro kept the attack balanced with 53 assists on the night. The Tornado took the set 25–19 to stay alive.
Set Four: King Evens the Match
The Tornado continued their surge in the fourth, using a .242 hitting percentage and timely blocks to keep Newberry off balance. Pliapol and Trent Benedict delivered key kills, and King closed out the set 25–22 to force a decisive fifth.
Set Five: Closing Time
In a tense final frame, King and Newberry traded points with 10 tie scores and eight lead changes. Pliapol and Fermani came through in the clutch, and King edged out a 16–14 win to complete the comeback and seal the match.
Statistical Leaders – King University
Offense
Carson Pliapol: 17 kills, .387 hitting, 18.0 points
Alessandro Fermani: 14 kills, .286 hitting, 15.0 points
Colton Bueter: 5 kills, 3 aces, 10.0 points
Dalton Claiborne: 6 kills, .429 hitting, 8.5 points
Trent Benedict: 3 kills, .500 hitting, 5.5 points
Kellen Woolm: 3 kills
Colin Dargan: 5 kills
Brett Lloyd: 2 kills
Setting
Joao Pedro Ribeiro: 53 assists, 9 digs, 4.0 points
Defense & Blocking
Dalton Claiborne: 3 total blocks
Team Total: 13 total blocks
Braxton Chipley: 8 digs
Team Digs: 54
King out-hit Newberry .257 to .250 and held a 13–12 edge in total blocks, showcasing their depth and determination in a hard-fought road win.
Up Next:
The Tornado return to action on Saturday, February 21, traveling to Belmont, N.C., to face Belmont Abbey College at 6 p.m. as they continue Conference Carolinas play.
