East Union’s Emanuel Knight had a three-kill run in the first set Thursday to spark the Lancers to a 25-22 opening-game win before visiting Buhach Colony of Atwater rebounded to win the next three 25-17, 25-12, 25-20 to give the Thunder a non-league boys volleyball win at Dalben Center.  

“That was great,” Knight said of his barrage in the first game. “We had had good concentration and did what we had to do to get the job done.”

Devin Abrew added back-to-back kills following Knight to bump the lead for East Union (1-2) to 17-13 in the first game.

“The first game we came out strong,” Abrew said. “We had a lot of communication and worked well at the net.”

Lancers coach Courtney Ozment sees the potential upside with her squad.

“We set a high standard in that first game,” Ozment said. “But we couldn’t follow through after that.

“I am with these guys two hours every day and I see their potential. For them to fall short like that is disappointing but it goes to show that we can do far better things like we did in the first game.”

Knight finished with 10 service points, six kills two digs and a block and Abrew had four kills and an ace. Augustin Casteneda added 12 assists, a kill and a dig for East Union and Matthew Pilkay had eight assists, four kills and two digs.

The Thunder (2-2) never trailed in the second and third games and once Buhach Colony took the lead at 10-9 in the fourth set the Lancers never led again. 

“Just like East Union, this is our first season playing,” Buhach Colony coach Andy Hill said. “But we have played some teams that have been playing for a few seasons. 

“After that first game we talked and I reminded them that we are a very technical team and very focused on technique and then we saw what we can do when we execute.”