Men’s volleyball team defeats Adrian for first NCAA win in program history

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Olivet College men's volleyball team split two matches today at the 2016 Wittenberg University Quad, held inside the Pam Evans Smith Arena in Springfield, Ohio. After losing the first match of the day in three sets to Hilbert (N.Y.) College, the Comets picked-up their first win in program history with a five-set victory over Adrian College.

Hilbert swept the Comets in three sets 25-13, 25-10, 25-20. Sophomore Luke Dewitt recorded a team-leading five kills. Sophomore Rhett Pringle was next with four kills. Sophomore Jeremiah Cowham dished out a team-best 10 set assists. Senior Blake Burk posted a team-leading 11 digs.

Adrian won the first set 25-22 before Olivet took a two sets to one lead with 25-14 and 25-19 wins in the second and third sets. The Bulldogs forced the deciding set with a 25-17 win in the fourth set. The Comets claimed the victory with a 15-11 win the in the fifth set.

Dewitt led the way with 16 kills and a .281 attack percentage. Pringle finished with seven kills. Cowham recorded 23 set assists. Burk, Cowham and Pringle had 12 digs apiece.

Olivet is now off Friday, Feb. 5, when it makes the trip to Wisconsin for its first-ever Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League match against Milwaukee School of Engineering. First serve is 8 p.m. EST. The next afternoon at 4 p.m. EST, the Comets will play at preseason MCVL favorite Carthage (Wis.) College.

NOTES: The win for Olivet against Adrian is the first-ever men's volleyball win by an NCAA school in the state of Michigan. All of the players on the Comets' roster are from Michigan, while Adrian's roster has only one player from the state.