FRANKFORT, Ky. – After dropping the opening set, Kentucky State men's volleyball responded by winning the next three to defeat Defiance 3-1 (25-27, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23) Saturday at Bell Gym.
 
Jamar Patterson led the Thorobreds' offensive effort with a match-high 18.5 points and 16 kills. Setter Jackson Moffitt directed the attack with 34 assists, while Ryker Noteboom added 10 kills and Ignance Ntagara finished with eight.
 
At the net, Kentucky State controlled play by out-blocking Defiance 12-8. Jamal Gray led the back row with 14 digs, while Moffitt added nine.
 
In the opening set, the Thorobreds battled back from an early deficit to tie the score at 15-15, fueled by two consecutive Defiance attack errors. The Yellow Jackets responded with a late surge, using a 5-0 run to take a 21-20 lead before edging Kentucky State 27-25.
 
Kentucky State answered in the second set after falling behind 6-0 early. Ntagara helped spark a 5-0 run that cut the deficit to 8-7, then later delivered a kill that, combined with a Defiance error, sealed a 25-23 set win and evened the match at 1-1.
 
The Thorobreds carried that momentum into the third set. Patterson served seven consecutive points during a decisive run, while adding two aces, and Noteboom contributed two kills to help Kentucky State build a 17-10 advantage. Defiance made a late push, but Ntagara closed the set with a kill for a 25-21 win.
 
In the fourth set, Kentucky State erased a 6-3 deficit to tie the score at 11-11 behind a strong blocking sequence from Jacob Herman and Noteboom. The set featured 10 ties and four lead changes before Patterson put down his 16th kill of the match to secure the 25-23 win and clinch the match.
 
Up Next 
Men's Volleyball will return to SIAC play as they head to Fort Valley State for a pair of matches March 20-21. 
 
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