Chicago, Ill. - The Illinois Tech men's volleyball had a tall task in front of them for their home and season opener Friday night at the Keating Center: taking on #2 ranked New York University. The Scarlet Hawks battled, but the Violets proved too tough, sweeping the Hawks 3-0. The Hawks start the season 0-1, while the Violets open at 1-0.

The Violets lived up to their pre-season hype, with All-American Lucas Osiecki recording 16 kills in 21 attacks for an outrageous attack percentage of .762. The team finished with a .457 overall attack percentage.

Maximo Dowling, the Scarlet Hawks first-year outside hitter from Burlington, Vermont led the team with 8 kills in his first collegiate career match. 

NYU 3 - Illinois Tech 0

• Set 1 - NYU 25 - Illinois Tech 21: The opening set featured 10 tie scores and 3 lead changes. The match was tied at 16-16 before the Violets closed out the set with a 9-5 run. Dowling led the Scarlet Hawks with 4 kills.
• Set 2 - NYU 25 - Illinois Tech 17: The Hawks stayed close with the Violets in the early part of set two, playing even with NYU at 6-6. But a 4-0 run by NYU gave them a 10-6 lead, and they seized momentum for the remainder of the set. Riley Laite had 3 kills for the Hawks.
• Set 3 - NYU 25 - Illinois Tech 21: Illinois Tech held an early 3-1 lead. Neither team would build more than a two-point lead through the middle of the set, with the teams tied at 16-16. Another 4-0 run by the Violets provided them separation, and the Hawks could not get closer than 3 points the rest of the way. Dowling added 4 more kills to lead the Hawks in the final set.

Scarlet Hawks Standouts

• Maximo Dowling led the Hawks with 8 kills while adding 3 digs, 13 receptions and one block assist in his first collegiate career match
• Paul Henderson had 5 kills, 1 service ace and 4 digs
• Riley Laite with 5 kills, 1 service ace and 11 receptions
• Alec Donald with 28 receptions without error
• Elis Sherman led the Hawks with 12 assists

Inside The Box Score

• Lucas Osiecki of NYU led all players with 16 kills and a .762 attack percentage
• The Violets Ry Kagan added 12 kills with a .556 attack percentage
• The Violets had 4 players with attack percentages .400 or higher

Up Next
The competition doesn't get easier for the Scarlet Hawks when they travel to Naperville on Thursday, January 23rd for a match against #18 ranked North Central College at 7:00 PM.