Box Score
LANGHORNE, PA - A record-setting performance from third-year outside hitter Justin Brubaker wasn't enough during a heavyweight skirmish with Hope International University Thursday night.
During the group's opening contest on their trip out west, the Crimson Eagles fell 3-2 during a roller-coaster affair with the Royals despite Brubaker's program-best mark of 42 kills during the match. Brubaker bombed the record-setting number while hitting .337 throughout the five set tilt as PBU fell 30-28, 30-26, 27-30, 23-30, 12-15.
After collecting wins during the first two rallies, the visitors began to succumb to Hope's constant attack. The Royals hit .330 for the match including a .600 mark in the final and all-decisive fifth game to slug out their seventh win of the season. Ranked second overall in the NAIA, HIU withstood a season high 84 kills from PBU by notching 90 spikes throughout the night themselves.
During a match that lasted nearly two and a half hours, the Royals finished the evening with five players in double-digit kills while Leo Dueck was the only other Crimson Eagle to find the double-digit mark in addition to Brubaker. Dueck posted 22 spikes to go with 12 digs while Noah Prickett chipped in 13 stops on the defensive side of the ball. Drew Dillon provided a career high tally of 78 assists in the losing effort for PBU.
The Crimson Eagles will enjoy a second dance with Hope in as many days as PBU will go up against the Royals Friday night at 10:00 pm Eastern time.