MIDWAY, Ky - Midway men's volleyball came out rusty in its first action of the season, dropping a pair of 3-0 decisions against Talladega (Ala.) and Bluefield (Va.) in a triangle match at Marshall Gymnasium.

The Eagles fell 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 to the Tornadoes then lost 25-20, 25-20, 25-15 to the Rams.

TALLADEGA 3, MIDWAY 0

The Tornadoes jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the opening set, and though the Eagles kept things close, they were never able to take the lead. 

The deficit dropped all the way down to 23-21 on a Colton Marsh ace, but following an error, Talladega's Ty'Sean Wallace ended the set with an ace of his own.

The second set followed a similar pattern, as the Eagles scored first off a service error, only for the Tornadoes to score the next five points.

Midway managed to tie the set four times, the last time at 19-19 on a Marsh kill, only for an answer kill from Wallace to spark a 4-0 run.

The Eagles held a 17-16 lead in set three off a Joseph Boujaoude ace, but Talladega again rallied, as an Eagle error began a critical 5-1 run that completed the sweep.

Jonathan McGuyer led the team with nine kills, while Marsh and Boujaoude each added six. Nearly all of them were set up by Daniel Cogo, who had 26 of Midway's 30 assists.

Cogo also eight digs, one less than team leader Jose Conde.

BLUEFIELD 3, MIDWAY 0

The Rams held a significant edge at the net, finishing the match with a 0.438 hitting percentage, compared to the 0.114 of the Eagles.

Bluefield didn't surrender the lead in either the first or third sets, the last of which was decided by double figures.

Cogo, who was third in the Mid-South Conference in assists a season ago, had 17 more in the second match. Conde again led the team in digs with eight.

Midway will get another crack at the Rams in just a week, as the teams will meet in Bluefield at noon next Saturday.

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