Men’s volleyball team opens MCVL play with three-set loss to Mount Union

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's volleyball team started Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) play tonight with a three-set loss to University of Mount Union (Ohio) at the Cutler Event Center. The Purple Raiders won by scores of 25-20, 25-18 and 25-19.

• Final Score: Mount Union defeated Olivet 25-20, 25-18, 25-19
• Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 4-8 overall, 0-1 MCVL; Mount Union 11-4 overall, 1-0 MCVL

• In the beginning of the first set, there were nine tied scores and four lead changes. After the last deadlock at 10-10, the Purple Raiders used back-to-back kills to go up 12-10. The Comets closed the gap to a single point on five occasions. Following the final time at 16-15, Mount Union scored four straight points to gain a five-point lead. Olivet fought back to make the score 23-20 before a Purple Raider kill and Comet attack error handed the set to Mount Union.
• The Purple Raiders never trailed in the second set. Mount Union led by as many as seven points multiple times late in the set.
• Olivet took an early 7-5 lead in the third set. The Purple Raiders answered with a 9-2 run to go ahead 14-9. The Comets came back to trim their deficit down to one point, 17-16. From there, Mount Union ended the set on an 8-3 run.
• For the match, the Purple Raiders had 50 kills compared to 31 for Olivet.

• Junior Deontay Thomas finished with a team-best 10 kills and .286 attack percentage.
• Sophomore Ethan Valente tallied nine kills.
• Junior Everett Haynes contributed team-highs in set assists (28) and digs (seven).
• Junior Will Mensching served four aces.

• Cameron Ternent slammed down a match-high 12 kills.
• Luke Trzeciak had 10 kills.
• Will Heeney registered 40 set assists.
• Aaron Armour collected 10 digs.

• Olivet continues conference play tomorrow when it hosts Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) University at 1 p.m.