Chicago, Ill. – On Tuesday, February 11th, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks men's volleyball team welcomed the Benedictine University Eagles to the Keating Sports Center for the first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) match-up of the 2025 season. While the Hawks hoped their first conference game of the year could break them into the win column, the Eagles had other plans as they looked to go over the .500 mark. In a 3-set sweep, the Eagles (6-5, 1-0) took home the victory over the Hawks (0-6, 0-1) 

BENEDICTINE 3 – ILLINOIS TECH 0 

SET ONE: BENEDICTINE 25 - ILLINOIS TECH 13: Elijah Johnson started the match and set off strong with back-to-back service aces, giving the Hawks an early lead. Action would the go back-and-forth, leading to a 6-6 tie following a Maximo Dowling kill from an Eli Sherman assists before the set turned in favor of the Eagles. Starting with a 4-0 run, the Eagles created enough of a gap to give themselves offensive momentum and took off with the lead, eventually securing set one 25-13.  

SET TWO: BENEDICTINE 25 - ILLINOIS TECH 21: In a much closer set, the Hawks only lead came off the opening set point off a Riley Laite kill from a Paul Henderson assist. Although the set immediately turned in favor of the Eagles, the Hawks fought to keep action close, including coming within 1-point at 5-4 and 7-6. While the Eagles stayed ahead, the Hawks made a late push with three straight points to make the set 23-20. This late push included a Bryan Evans kill from Johnson, an Eagle attacking error, and a Henderson service ace. In the end, the set would go to the visitors 25-21.   

SET THREE: BENEDICTINE 25 - ILLINOIS TECH 17: For the third set, the Eagles started with the lead and never looked back. Unable to keep up momentum from the second set, the Hawks struggled to get their offense going. Their best run came during the middle of the set when they were able to come within five of the Eagles. The Eagles just proved to be too much, taking the third set 25-17, earning the match victory.  

SCARLET HAWK STANDOUTS 

Paul Henderson – 5 kills, 2 service aces, 2 assists 

Jelani Kimoto – 4 kills 

Eli Sherman – 3 kills, 7 assists 

Elijah Johnson – 2 service aces, 10 assists 

Andrew Franks – 1 service ace 

Colten Farrell – 1 block 

Raul Matos – 1 block, 3 digs 

Alec Donald – 10 digs 

Riley Laite – 3 digs 

EAGLES' STANDOUTS 

Chris Rodomski – 17 kills, 1 assist 

Tucker Lambert – 7 kills, 7 digs 

Trace Samaras – 6 kills, 3 blocks 

Zander Feudner – 1 service ace, 1 assist, 3 digs 

Eoin O'Toole – 1 service ace, 4 blocks 

Spencer VanEngen – 1 service ace, 32 assists 

Jacob Thomas – 4 blocks 

Jordan Cardenas – 4 digs 

UP NEXT 

This weekend, the Hawks will be competing in the Springfield Men's Volleyball Showcase 2025 hosted by Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Action will begin on Friday, February 14th when the Hawks take on Westminster College in a 6:30 PM CT Valentines Day match. Then, on Saturday, February 15th, the Hawks will start out the day taking on Eastern Mennonite University at 1:30 PM CT before turning around and playing the host, Wittenberg University, at 4:00 PM CT.