UOlivet splits two matches at Calvin Invitational

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The University of Olivet men's volleyball team split two non-conference matches today at the Calvin University Invitational. The Comets swept Rockford (Ill.) University before losing to St. Norbert College (Wis.) in four sets.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Olivet defeated Rockford 31-29, 25-17, 25-21
• Location: Hoogenboom Gymnasium; Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 5-8 overall, Rockford 1-7 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set was close until the later stage when the Regents built a five-point cushion at 21-16. Olivet battled back and fought off set points at 24-23 and 25-24. A Rockford service error leveled the score and an ace by sophomore Silas Martin handed the Comets' set point for the first time. The Regents used a 3-1 run to get their third set point at 28-27. Olivet responded a kill and Rockford attack error to make the score 29-28. After the Comets had a service error to tie the score, they slammed down back-to-back kills – one each by freshman Alex Temple and Martin – to end the set in their favor. Overall for the set, there were 20 ties and six lead changes.
• Olivet carried the momentum into the second set, building a 5-2 lead. The Regents scored three straight points before they had three consecutive attack errors to put the Comets ahead 9-6. Rockford came back to level the score at 9-9 and 10-10. Olivet responded with a 5-0 spurt to go up 15-10. The Comets did not trail for the remainder of the set. For the set, Olivet had a .310 attack percentage, and the Regents posted a negative .138 attack percentage.
• Rockford held the advantage for most of the third set. The Comets did not take the lead for the first time until the score was 18-17. The Regents scored two of the next three points to tie the score. Olivet put three straight points on the scoreboard and never looked back.

FOR THE COMETS

• For the match, Olivet recorded 41 kills compared to 30 for the Regents. The Comets also hit at a higher percentage, .277 to .071.
• Freshman Jared Carter led all players with nine kills.
• Sophomore Payton Hastings was next with eight kills.
• Martin finished with seven kills.
• Freshman Austin Chamblee posted match-bests in set assists (34) and digs (12).
• Senior Matthew Tollar joined Chamblee in double digits with 10 digs.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: St. Norbert defeated Olivet 25-21, 23-25, 25-15, 25-22
• Location: Hoogenboom Gymnasium; Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 5-9 overall, St. Norbert 3-4 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first set, Olivet built a five-point lead at 15-10. The Green Knights came back with a 10-2 run gain a three-point lead, 20-17. The Comets cut the deficit to two points on multiple occasions, but St. Norbert hung on to win the set, 25-21.
• The second saw the Green Knights take a six-point advantage, 13-7. Olivet chipped away at its deficit and eventually leveled the score at 17-17. St. Norbert went back ahead by two points three times. After the third time at 21-19, the Comets scored four straight points. Olivet held the lead for the rest of the set, winning it 25-23.
• The start of the third set had four ties and a pair of lead changes. After the last tie at 4-4, St. Norbert used two kills and an Olivet attack error to take a 7-4 lead. The Green Knights did not trail for the rest of the set.
• To begin the fourth set, the teams traded 4-1 runs, resulting in a 5-4 Comet lead. There were five more deadlocks over the course of the next 11 points added to the scoreboard. Following a 10-10 score, St. Norbert took the lead for good with a 3-0 spurt. Olivet did trim its deficit down to a point late in the set before a service error and bad set handed the match to the Green Knights.
• Both teams slammed down 46 kills and had 21 attack errors. The difference in the match was St. Norbert had four more service aces (8 to 4) and 10 less service errors (11 to 21).

FOR THE COMETS

• Carter and freshman Hayden Olson tallied 12 kills apiece.
• Hastings and Martin each pounded down eight kills.
• Carter also recorded a match-high 11 digs.
• Chamblee collected 38 set assists.

UP NEXT

• The Comets host Wabash (Ind.) College next Friday, February 20. The first serve at The Cutler Event Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.