WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Immaculata University men's volleyball team made its long-awaited program debut Wednesday night at Wilkes, and fell to the host Colonels in its inaugural match, 3-0. Freshmen Garrett Pepper, Bryce Wiltbank and Donte Ramos each turned in solid performances in their first career matches, as all three led at least one statistical category on the night.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Mighty Macs held even with the Colonels through the first six points of the opening match, but an 11-1 Wilkes run shortly after vaulted the hosts to a first-set victory, 25-14.
-The Macs put together a string of three consecutive points on a pair of occasions in the early going of the second set - led by Pepper and Wiltbank kills - but IU was unable to break through and take the lead at either point in the set, dropping the second 25-13.
-Wilkes took three of the first four points of the third set and quickly stretched its lead out to six on the benefit of a few IU errors, before pulling away late for the third set victory, 25-10, to take the match in straight sets, 3-0.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
-Kills: Pepper 7, Wiltbank 2
-Aces: Ramos 2
-Blocks: Wiltbank
-Digs: Pepper 6, Masino 4
-Assists: Ramos 7

UP NEXT
Immaculata (0-1) makes the trek to Penn State Altoona Saturday for tournament play, taking on Medaille College at 3 p.m. before concluding the day against the host Nittany Lions at 5 p.m.