UOlivet downed by Rockford in four sets

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The University of Olivet men's volleyball team was upended by Rockford (Ill.) University in four sets this afternoon inside the Seaver Center. Rockford won the first set before the Comets earned the win in the second set to even the score. The Regents claimed wins in the third and fourth sets for the win.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Rockford defeated Olivet 25-20, 19-25, 25-23, 25-17
• Location: Seaver Center; Rockford, Illinois
• Records: Olivet 2-10 overall, Rockford 2-5 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first half of the opening set was close, as there were several tied scores and lead changes. After an 11-11 deadlock, the Regents went on a 10-3 run to gain their largest lead of the set, 21-14. The Comets rallied with a 9-2 spurt to close the gap to three points. Following a timeout, Rockford put the final two points to win the set, 25-20. The difference in the set was that the Regents had five less attack errors.
• Rockford scored the first four points of the second set. The Comets answered with five straight points. After three tied scores, including the last one at 7-7, the Regents had a mini 3-0 run to go 10-7. Rockford served the ball into net, and senior Will Mensching served two aces to level the score. The Regents went ahead by two points, 12-10. Olivet used a 10-3 run to gain a five-point cushion, 20-15. The Comets held advantage for the rest of the set, winning it by a 25-19 score.
• The third set saw Rockford build a three-point lead, 8-5. Olivet chipped away at its deficit and eventually tied the score, 10-10. After the Regents scored the next point, a service error, attack error and two Mensching aces made the score 14-11 in the Comets' favor. Rockford came back with a 5-2 run to even the score, 16-16. There were two more tied scores, 17-17 and 18-18. The Regents responded with a 5-1 run for a 23-19 lead. Olivet narrowed the gap to a point, 24-23, before a Rockford kill ended the set.
• In the third set, Olivet led by as many as four points, 14-10. The Regents put together a 15-3 run to close out the set and match.
• For the match, Rockford totaled 42 kills to 34 for the Comets. The Regents had 12 fewer attack errors, 19 to 31, which led to a higher attack percentage, .235 to .029.

FOR THE COMETS

• Freshman Silas Martin recorded a team-leading 11 kills.
• Sophomores Aiden Chamblee and sophomore Amarion Lawson each had six kills.
• Sophomore Andy Hok registered 28 set assists.
• Senior Will Mensching tied the single-match UOlivet record with five service aces.
• Junior Matthew Tollar tallied a team-best nine digs.

UP NEXT

• The Comets play an exhibition match next Thursday night at Davenport University. Olivet's next countable match is Friday, February 21, when it hosts Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) University to open Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League play. The first serve is at 7 p.m.