DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - Loras is on the hunt for their first win in program history after narrowly falling to Benedictine and MSOE last week. A rematch with Lindenwood-Belleville begins the roadtrip on Thursday night before facing Culver-Stockton on Friday.
ABOUT THE LYNX ...Loras makes the return trip to Belleville, Illinois after hosting the Lynx in their home-opener. That night, Lindenwood-Belleville earned tight wins in sets one and two before closing out the match in set four.
Jon Adlington leads the Lynx' attack, operating at a .357 hitting percentage with 1.9 kills per set. Sidney Estrada has made his return to the lineup, totaling six kills in his first five sets and committing just one error in 13 attacks.
The Lynx committed 18 service errors in the season opener, a statistic that has carried through as they have totaled 95 errors in 26 sets.
For Loras to be successful tonight, they'll need to remain consistent in both their offensive and defensive approaches.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS ...Culver-Stockton welcomes the Duhawks for their home opener after playing their first eight matches on the road.
Steve Battaglia is the focal point of the Wildcat attack with 43 kills in 92 attacks. Through the team's first 28 sets, Battaglia is averaging 3.04 kills per set. He'll lineup in the middle, posing a tall threat at 6-5 for Loras to account for in their attacks.
Similar to Lindenwood-Belleville, Culver-Stockton has struggled at times with their serving, committing 73 errors to 25 aces.
The Wildcats had their three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday with a loss to Missouri Valley College.
LEARNING AS THEY GO …The Duhawks could not have asked for a more valuable start to their season as they've been put in many different scenarios. They've experienced the highs of pushing a set to extras but also the disappointment of falling in three. All this will help the growth of this young team.
PUSHING THE ENVELOPE …In their third game of the season, Loras pushed MSOE to the brink before falling in five sets. After dropping the first set, the Duhawks responded by taking the next two and putting themselves on the cusp of eclipsing their first victory. Unfortunately for the Duhawks, MSOE responded in the fourth set to push it to extras before grabbing the five-set win. Following their 6-0 week, the Raiders were included in this week's AVCA Top 15.
KREISER'S EXPERIENCE A WELCOME ADDITION …As one of just four upper-classmen on the 2015 roster,
Michael Kreiser has taken the reigns of the team and leads in numerous offensive categories. At 3.25 kills per set, Kreiser's ability to score with a strong right arm is no secret. His defensive abilities have provided stability in the Duhawks' back line. With 2.75 digs per set, Kreiser has the tools to contribute in every aspect of the game.
TWO-HEADED ATTACK …Coming from successful high school careers, freshmen
Danny Krasich and
Shayne Marquez have split time in the first three matches. The more experience they gather the stronger they'll become as a part of Loras' offensive attack.
NOT THE ONLY NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK …A look at Loras' 2015 schedule reveals three other programs that are in their first year. Benedictine University, Trinity International University, and Calumet College of St. Joseph are all fielding men's volleyball teams for the first time in 2015. Calumet once fielded a men's volleyball program, but it was dissolved after the 2007 season.
FOLLOW THE DUHAWKS THIS SEASON …Be sure to keep tabs on everything Loras College Men's Volleyball by following the team on Twitter (@LorasMensVB and @LorasAthletics) over the course of their inaugural season. In game updates, post-game infographics, game recaps, and everyday updates can be found through their Twitter. #WelcomeMVB is the official hashtag of Friday'season opener as Loras Athletics welcomes the official start of it's 23rd intercollegiate athletic program.
LORAS SET TO COMPETE IN THE MCVL …Shortly after the announcement that men's volleyball would become the 23rd sport offered at Loras College, chatter of a men's volleyball conference intensified. A few months later, the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League was formed. With teams spread out across the midwest, the Duhawks are one of eight members in the conference's first year. An announcement earlier this fall stated the league would expand to 14 teams as early as next year with addition of several schools. With the league topping double-digits, next season will feature two divisions. This season the Duhawks will tack on the miles, playing games in five different states.
