Chicago, Ill. - On their home court inside the Keating Sports Center, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks men's volleyball team took on the Marian University Sabres in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) match-up. The Hawks (8-13, 4-4) came out strong and didn't look back as they swept the Sabres (15-6, 6-3) 3-0 to even out their NACC record.
How It Happened
Set One - Hawks 25, Marian 23
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Illinois Tech opened up the contest with the first two points to take the early lead. Marian didn't take long though to tie the set for the first time, as well as to take the lead for the first time, after going on a 3-0 run to go ahead 4-3 over the Hawks. From there, the two sides remained close with multiple ties. Every time the Hawks went ahead, the Sabres would answer with a point of their own to tie the set back up. Throughout set one, there were a total of 18 ties. In the end, it was the Hawks who ended up on top with a 4-1 run. An attack error by the Sabres tied the contest at 22-22 before a Grant Couper kill off a Alec Donald assist put the Hawks ahead. After a blocking error by the Hawks gave the Sabres a point, tying the set at 23-23, back-to-back points by the Hawks gave them the set point. Both points came off errors by the Sabres, giving the Hawks the 25-23 set one victory.
Set Two - Hawks 25, Marian 17
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After being tied early at 3-3, the Hawks went on a 9-2 run to jump out ahead. During the run, points were recorded by a Sabre service error, three Sabre attacking errors, a Jackson Van Engen kill off a Elijah Johnson assist, two Couper kills off a Johnson assist's, and two Paul Henderson service aces. This run put the Hawks ahead 14-6, giving them a comfortable lead as they didn't look back. At the end of the set, the Hawks would take set two with a 6-2 run. During this run, the Hawks picked up points off two Saber service errors, two Riley Laite kills from a Johnson assist's Johnson kill, and a Sabre service error. After a strong offensive performance, the Hawks took set two 25-17.
Set Three - Hawks 25, Marian 23
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The beginning of set three went back-and-forth between the Hawks and Sabres before the visiting team went on an 8-1 run in the middle of the set to take a 17-11 lead. Although the set looked like it was going to belong to the Sabres, the Hawks didn't give up. After the Sabres run, the Hawks went on a short 4-0 run of their own to come within 2. Points during the run came from a Sabre service error, a block by Van Engen, a kill by Van Engen, and a kill by Laite to make the score 17-15. The Sabres would continue to remain ahead with the Hawks knocking on the door before a 3-0 run tied the contest. With three points coming from a Van Engen kill off a Johnson assist, a Sabre attacking error, and a Laite kill, the third set would be tied at 22-22. The Sabres would take one more point before the Hawks were able to close out the set with back-to-back-to-back points. A Sabre service error, a Couper kill from a Johnson assist, and a Sabre attacking error gave the Hawks what they needed to win set three and sweep the Sabres.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
Sabres Standouts
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Cam Muller - 10 kills
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Isaac Dreiguerst - 9 kills, 1 service ace
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Keanu Ouranitsas - 6 kills, 1 block
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Nick Stasch - 1 service ace, 26 assists, 6 digs
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Derek Wills - 1 block, 11 digs
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Aaron Velasco - 1 block, 6 digs
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Trent Goo Sun - 2 assists
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Marc Rey - 1 assist
Inside the Box Score
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The Hawks led in kills 39-35
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5 total aces were recorded between the two sides, with the Hawks holding the advantage with 3
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In blocks, the Sabres led 3-2
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34 assists were recorded by the Hawks while the Sabres had 32
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For digs, the Hawks finished with 40 versus the Sabres 37
Up Next
The Hawks are now on the road for their next two games. They will return to action on Tuesday, March 26, when they travel over to River Forest, Ill. to take on the Concordia University Chicago Cougars in NACC action. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
