GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Calvin University men's volleyball team closed a strong week of home contests with a 3-1 win over Concordia University Chicago (CUC) by the scores of 20-25, 25-20, 25-19 and 25-18.
CUC (4-6) started the match strong, winning the first set 25-20 with the help of 13 kills and an attack efficiency of .281.
Gabriel Laughlin (Grand Rapids, Mich./Western Michigan Aviation Academy) helped get Calvin (2-5) on track in the second set, recording seven kills to lead a Calvin attack that hit .375 on the way to a 25-20 set-two win that tied the match 1-1.
The third set showed the maturity of the young Knights as they battled the Cougars in a set that featured nine ties and two lead changes. With the set tied 18-18 late, Calvin scored seven of the final eight points and clinched the 25-19 win with a kill by
Aren Eisses (Utopia, Ontario/Unity Christian).
The Knights dominated the fourth set, building an early 4-0 lead and never trailing the rest of the way before securing the final point on a Laughlin service ace.
Laughlin and Eisses proved to be the hot hands for the Knights on that attack throughout the match, with Laughlin leading all players with 17 kills while Eisses finished with 13.
Arie Padmos (Martinez, Calif./Contra Costa Christian) added 11 kills.
Setter
Cameron Dogger (Holland, Mich./Zion Christian) recorded his first career double-double with 39 assists and 13 digs. Libero
Parker Steele (Boscobel, Wis./Boscal/Virginia Wesleyan) set new career highs with 20 digs and seven assists.
The win marked the second in a row for the Knights, who won their first ever match on Tuesday (February 6) against Aquinas.
COACH'S COMMENT: "Our job was to win the service game and we did that," Calvin head men's volleyball coach
Spencer Fredrick said. "I'm really happy with what we did. That was basically the game plan in terms of winning the service game."
NEXT UP: Calvin men's volleyball returns to action on Saturday, February 17, when it travels to St. Norbert for pair of matches. The Knights will face St. Norbert at 10:00 AM (CST), followed by a match against California Lutheran at 12:00 PM (CST).
