Men’s volleyball team splits two matches at CUW Invitational

MEQUON, Wis. – The Olivet College men's volleyball team split two matches this morning at the Concordia University Wisconsin Invitational, played inside the R. John Buuck Field House in Mequon. The Comets rallied to beat Millikin (Ill.) University in four sets before losing in three sets to the host Falcons. For his performance this weekend, senior Brock Pringle was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Final Score: Olivet def. Millikin (Ill.) 21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-18
Location: R. John Buuck Field House; Mequon, Wisconsin
Records: Olivet 1-3 overall, Millkin 0-5 overall

• With the exception of a 1-0 deficit, the Big Blue never trailed in the first set.
• The Comets raced out to a 7-2 lead in the second set. Millikin fought back to cut its deficit down to a single point twice but it would not get any closer for the rest of the set.
• The third set was back-and-forth as there were nine tied scores. After the last one at 18-18, Olivet went on a 5-1 run to go up 23-19. All five Comet points during the run were kills – two for freshman Aaron Smith, and one each Pringle, and seniors Aaron Giorgi and Dan Hayes. The Big Blue put the next two points on the scoreboard before Olivet ended the set with two straight points on a kill by Smith and double block by Hayes and Pringle.
• With the score knotted at 3-3 in the fourth set, the Comets scored six straight points to go up 9-3. Olivet did not relinquish its advantage for the rest of the set.                                                                                                        

• Smith finished with a match-best 12 kills and four service aces.
• Pringle had 10 kills.
• Giorgi recorded a team-high 36 set assists and 10 digs.

• Jose Gallardo tallied 10 kills.
• Peter Sailsman was next with nine kills.
• Robbie Maida dished out 28 set assists.
• Willie Valentine registered 12 digs.

Final Score: Concordia (Wis.) def. Olivet 25-21, 25-19, 25-21
Location: R. John Buuck Field House; Mequon, Wisconsin
Records: Olivet 1-4 overall, Concordia (Wis.) 3-2 overall

• The Falcons scored the first three points of the opening set. Concordia maintained its three-point cushion, 9-6, before a 5-0 Comet run made the score 11-9. Olivet kept its lead until a 3-0 Falcon run turned a 14-13 deficit into a 16-14 lead. The Comets tied the set at 18-18 and 19-19. Concordia put the next point on the scoreboard and did not give up its lead for the remainder of the set.
• The start of the second set was the same as the first, as the Falcons scored the first three points. Olivet answered with a 7-2 run for a 7-5 lead. Concordia responded with five straight points for a 10-7 advantage. The Falcons did not trail for the rest of the set.
• After the Comets scored the first point of the third set, Concordia scored the next six points and never looked back. Late in the set, Olivet did close the gap to two points, 22-20, and 23-21.

• Smith led all players with 17 kills.
• Pringle recorded 11 kills, with only one error, on 19 attacks for a team-best .526 hitting percentage.
• Giorgi tallied a team-high 35 set assists and eight digs.

• James Althoff finished with 16 kills.
• Matthew Korman had a team-best 30 set assists and eight digs.

• Olivet travels to play Dominican (Ill.) University next Saturday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m. ET.