Men’s volleyball team falls to Marian in first-ever home match

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's volleyball team completed another milestone in its inaugural season by virtue of playing Marian (Wis.) University tonight in its first-ever home match at The Cutler Event Center. The Comets were on the losing end of a three-set loss, 25-20, 25-21, 25-12 to the Sabres.

Marian led by three points in the first set, 10-7. Olivet scored the next three points on a Sabre attack error and back-to-back aces by sophomore Rhett Pringle to tie the set at 10-10. There were four more tied scores at 11-11, 12-12, 13-13 and 16-16. A 9-4 Marian run ended the set.

The second set was similar to the first one, with the Comets holding a 10-8 lead. The Sabres scored the next four points to go up 12-10. Olivet came back to tie the set four times, with the last time being 15-15. After Marian went up 17-15, the Comets went on a 5-0 run to grab the lead back, 20-17.

The Sabres rallied back to score eight of the final nine points of the set to earn the come-from-behind win. Marian led the third set from start-to-finish, leading three times by 13 points.

Pringle finished the match with four kills and a team-best .188 attack percentage. Sophomore Luke Dewitt also had four kills. Sophomores Jeremiah Cowham and Talen Schallhorn recorded five set assists a piece. Senior Blake Burk topped the defense with nine digs.

Olivet hosts Lakeland (Wis.) College tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. The Muskies defeated Adrian College in three sets (25-7, 25-13, 25-21) tonight at the Merillat Center in Adrian.