Chicago, Ill. - Inside a loud Keating Sports Center, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks men's volleyball team took on the Illinois Wesleyan University Titans in a non-conference battle. From the start, the Hawks (2-5) and Titans (5-2) went at it, putting up two close sets to begin the contest. With both sides sitting with one win a piece, the Hawks took set three comfortably 25-18. Then, the Titans dominantly took set four 25-11, forcing five sets. At the end, the Titans walked away with the thrilling victory as they defeated the Hawks 3-2.  

How It Happened

Set One - Titans 21, Hawks 25

• After the first two points went in favor of the Titans,the Hawks went on a 4-0 run with Elijah Johnson as the server. During the run, Grant Couper picked up a block and a kill. The Titans then took three straight points before the Hawks picked up back-to-back points to go ahead 6-5. After going back-and-forth, the Hawks went on a 4-1 run to take an 11-8 lead. Three points would then go in favor of the Titans to tie the contest at 12-12. After being tied at 13-13, the Hawks picked up three points to go ahead of the Titans. This created enough separation for the Hawks to hold the lead for the remainder of the set. Kills by Aaron Hanny, Riley Laite, and Grant Couper finished the set at the Hawks won 25-21. 

Set Two - Titans 25 - Hawks 21

• The two sides battled back and forth through much of the first set with eight ties taking place through 11-11. A  5-1 run for the Titans gave them the lead over the Hawks that remained for the rest of the set. The Hawks were able to come within three before the Titans took set two 25-21. 

Set Three - Titans 18, Hawks 25

• In set three, the Hawks dominated the Titans the whole way. To begin the set, the Hawks went on a 4-0 run. During the run, Riley Laite, Jackson Van Engen, and Grant Couper all picked up kills while Paul Henderson and Van Engen recorded a block. After the Titans recorded their first point of the set, the Hawks went on a 7-1 run to take an 11-2 lead. Van Engen Laite, and Jelani Kimoto recorded kills and Van Engen picked up a service ace. The Titans largest run came at 3-0 to make the score 21-16 in favor of the Hawks. A kill by Kimoto gave the Hawks the set three victory 25-18. 

Set Four - Titans 25, Hawks 11

• The Titans turned things around in their favor to take a dominating victory in set four. They began the set with a 9-1 run. After the Hawks picked up two points, the Titans then went on a 5-0 run to extend their comfortable lead to 14-3. The Hawks struggled to get any offense going as the Titans kept building their lead. In the end, the Titans took set four 25-11. 

Set Five - Titans 15, Hawks 8

• For the final set of the night, Van Engen started off with a kill before the Titans picked up one of their own. After being tied at 2-2, the Hawks picked up back to back points from kills by Van Engen and Henderson off Johnson assists to take a 4-2 lead. The Hawks stayed ahead at 6-4 before the Titans took three straight points. Back-to-back points by the Hawks put them ahead 8-7. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Titans were able to close out the set with a 8-0 run to take set five 15-8. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Riley Laite - 13 kills, 1 ace

• Jackson Van Engen - 1 ace, 2 blocks

• Jelani Kimoto - 3 blocks

• Elijah Johnson - 38 assists

• Alec Donald - 18 digs 

• Grant Couper - 8 kills, 2 blocks, 11 digs

• Paul Hendereson - 11 kills, 2 blocks, 9 digs

Titans Standouts

• Michael Eastman - 13 kills, 11 digs 

• Bryce Williams - 13 kills

• Jullian Perez - 11 kills, 1 ace, 6 blocks

• Brenden Reutter - 2 aces, 25 assists

• Jace Milka - 18 digs, 4 assists

• Vince DiCosola - 21 assists

Inside the Box Score

• The Titans finished with 54 kills versus the Hawks 46

• In aces, the Titans finished ahead 5-3

• Illinois Wesleyan recorded 10 blocks while Illinois Tech had 7

• For assists, the titans had 51 and the Hawks had 41

• The Titans edged the Hawks in digs 58-54

Up Next

The Hawks return to action on Friday, February 9, when they welcome the Wittenberg University Tigers to the Keating Sports Center. The non-conference contest will begin at 7:00 PM.