Men’s volleyball team battles in three-set loss to Benedictine

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's volleyball team had a lead in each of the three sets against Benedictine (Ill.) University today at The Cutler Event Center in Olivet. The Eagles won by scores of 25-19, 25-14, 25-14.

The Comets scored the first three points of the opening, forcing the Benedictine coach to call a timeout. Olivet eventually took a 5-1 lead before the Eagles went on a 4-0 run to tie the set, 5-5. The Comets surged ahead by two points, 7-5. Benedictine came back to force three more tied scores, 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9. Three Eagle attack errors put Olivet ahead 12-9.

The Eagles responded with a 3-0 run to tie the set, 12-12. The teams traded points, causing five more deadlocks, with the last time being 17-17. Two Benedictine kills made the score 19-17. The Comets scored the next point before the Eagles closed the set out by scoring six of the final seven points.

Olivet held the lead in the early stages of the second set until Benedictine fought back to tie it at 4-4 and 5-5. The Comets were down only one, 8-7. The Eagles then went on a 10-3 scoring run to go up eight points, 18-10. Olivet closed to within six points, 20-14, before Benedictine scored the final five points of the set.

The third set was back-and-forth until the Comets gained a three-point advantage, 8-5. From there, the Eagles went on a 14-0 run to take a 19-8 lead and maintain a double digit lead for the remainder of the set.

Olivet had a positive attack percentage in each of the three sets. The best set was the second when the Comets had nine kills, with only three errors on 30 attempts for a .200 hitting percentage.

Sophomores Luke Dewitt and Rhett Pringle had almost identical attack numbers. Both had eight kills and two errors, with Pringle having 21 attempts for a slightly better .286 attack percentage and Dewitt having 24 attempts for a .250 attack percentage. Dewitt also had a team-best three blocks. Sophomore Talen Schallhorn posted team-highs in set assists (22) and digs (seven). Sophomore Jeremiah Cowham had four kills and two blocks.

Olivet will take a break from MCVL play next Wednesday, March 16, when it plays a 7 p.m. match at Siena Heights University.