MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Illinois Tech men's volleyball battled tough in the final two sets but eventually fell to Milwaukee School of Engineering in straight sets, 0-3, on Saturday at Kern Center. The Scarlet Hawks recorded 15 kills in the second set, marking their highest total for the match.
Illinois Tech holds a record of 4-11 overall and 3-3 in the NACC. The Raiders stand at 12-5 overall with a 5-0 record in NACC play.
How It Happened
The first set opened with MSOE gaining an early advantage, capitalizing on a series of attack errors by the Scarlet Hawks. Despite a kill from Dowling and a block by Kimoto and Evans at 9:17, Illinois Tech struggled to maintain momentum. MSOE's Harris was instrumental, securing several kills and contributing to a 15-6 lead midway through the set. Illinois Tech attempted a comeback with a four-point run, narrowing the score to 21-12 with several unforced errors from the Raiders. However, MSOE's Carroll secured the final point with a kill from Schultz, concluding the set at 25-13.
The second set was marked by a closely contested battle between the Scarlet Hawks and the Raiders, with MSOE ultimately securing a narrow 26-24 victory. Dowling contributed significantly with multiple kills, including a crucial point at 23-23. Hanny also played a key role, recording several kills and helping to keep the score tight. Despite the efforts of Illinois Tech and strong performances from players like Boger, MSOE's Harris and Schultz proved decisive, each delivering critical kills. The set concluded with Harris securing the final point through a kill from an assist by Rings, giving MSOE the set.
The third set began with MSOE establishing momentum through the efforts of Schultz, who delivered multiple kills, assisted by Rings, to put the Raiders ahead 5-2. The Scarlet Hawks responded with strong plays from Hanny and Dowling, but struggled with attack errors, allowing MSOE to maintain their lead. A service ace by Boger brought Illinois Tech closer at 13-10. However, the Raiders' offense, featuring Thomas and Harris, extended its advantage. Despite a late surge from the Scarlet Hawks, including a service ace by Boger, MSOE secured the set with a 25-19 victory, concluding with a Rings kill.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
Aaron Hanny
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- 7 kills on 9 attempts (.667 hitting percentage)
- 2 digs
- 1 block assist
Maximo Dowling
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- 11 kills
- 8 digs
- 1 service ace
- 12 points
Samuel Goh
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- 16 assists
- 3 digs
Kyle Boger
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- 3 kills on 7 attempts (.286 hitting percentage)
- 2 service aces
- 4 digs
- 2 block assists
MSOE Top Performers
Matthew Schultz
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- 16.0 points
- 13 kills
- 6 total blocks
Callan Harris
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- 15.5 points
- 13 kills
- 2 service aces
Seth Thomas
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- 13.0 points
- 13 kills
- 0.619 hitting percentage
Parker Rings
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- 31 assists
- 1.000 hitting percentage
- 3 total blocks
Game Notes:
- Illinois Tech is now 1-8 lifetime against MSOE.
- Hanny - Achieved 7 kills, exceeding his season average of 3.64.
Up Next
Looking ahead, Illinois Tech will face Bryant & Stratton College on Saturday, March 7, at 1:30 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They will look to capitalize on home-court advantage in this upcoming matchup.
