WILBERFORCE, Ohio – The Benedict College men's volleyball team defeated Central State 3-1 to pick up their first victory of the season on Friday night in the second match of a SIAC doubleheader. Central State rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win the first match 3-2.
 
Benedict won the second match 25-17, 25-20, 15-25, 25-21. In the first match, Benedict won the first two sets, but Central State rallied to capture the next three for a 3-2 victory. Central State won the match 23-25, 26-28, 30-28, 25-19, 15-7.
 
Zion Beckford had a season-high 15 kills in the second match. Camron Petillo had 10 kills. Kendersley Marcellin had 38 assists. Benedict hit a season-best .213 in the match. Benedict had a 23-13 lead in the fourth set, then held off a late Central State rally to earn their first victory of the season.
 
In the first match, freshman Jackson Fehring-Terrell matched his season-high with 11 kills. Petillo had 10 kills. Kendersley Marcellin had a season-high 42 assists. Clint Forbes had 11 digs.
 
Benedict had a 23-18 lead in the first set before the Marauders scored five of the next six points to cut the lead to 24-23. Benedict won the set on a Central State service error.
 
Benedict had a 24-19 lead in the second set, but the Marauders scored the next six points to take a 25-24 lead. Benedict closed out the set with the final three points, getting a kill from Petillo and two Central State attack errors.
 
The third set was another tight battle, with Benedict holding a 24-23 lead, but couldn't close out the set. Central State scored the next two points. With the score tied at 28, Central State closed out the set with a kill and a service ace.
 
After Central State took the fourth set, the Marauders jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the deciding fifth set and went on for the 15-7 win to clinch the match.
 
The Tigers improve to 1-12 overall and 1-3 in the SIAC. Central State goes to 4-18 overall and 3-2 in the SIAC.
 
Benedict will play at Kentucky State on Saturday at 2 p.m.