LISLE, Ill. (Duhawks.com) – The Loras Men's Volleyball team was back on the road in an MCVL Conference matchup against the Benedictine Eagles where they would lose in four sets. Freshman TJ Esporas led the way for the Duhawks with 12 kills, eight digs and three blocks.

Loras was looking to avenge both of losses to the Eagles from earlier this season and the Duhawks started the match with great intensity. Freshman Shayne Marquez set up senior Michael Kreiser for the point and gave Loras an 8-4 lead early in set one.

Esporas would wind up a powerful swing that resulted in a robust kill to make the score, 11-6. Benedictine would respond by scoring eight of the next 10 points to gain the momentum and force the Duhawks to call a timeout following a service ace by Erik Kerber.

The freshman connection of Danny Krasich to Kyle Zacok planted the purple and gold back in front, 19-18. The Eagles would take control of the set from there, going on a 7-3 run to win the opening game, 25-22.

The home team Eagles would start quickly in set two thanks to a Jake Moran kill that catapulted BenU in front, 8-4. Freshman Jimmy Combs kept the Duhawks in the battle following a blinding kill to cut the lead to 14-10.

A Benedictine attack error kept Loras within four, 21-17, but BU once again ended the set with a fury of frontline pressure to take the set, 25-19. 

Third set competition saw BenU go up, 6-2, within the blink of an eye. The Duhawks would tally four of the next five points highlighted by a booming kill courtesy of freshman Dawid Kasprzak that cut the lead to 7-6.

Esporas continued to carve up the Eagle defense after the underclassmen rifled an attack to the floor to make it, 14-13. BenU pushed back with a kill of their own but from there, Loras hopped in the driver's seat and never looked back in the set. 

The purple and gold would go on to rattle off eight of the next 11 points, forcing the Eagles to call timeout. The Duhawk defense forced Benedictine to commit six errors during that stretch.

Swiftly after the timeout, Loras was clinging on to a 24-22 edge when Esporas dropped the hammer by slinging home an ace to award Loras the third set.

Another attacking error by Benedictine gave the Duhawks a 4-3 advantage early in the fourth. Momentum was starting to snowball in Loras' favor. 

At that point, the Eagles dug deep and started scoring in bunches. BenU went on a 14-1 run that took the wind right out of the sails of the Duhawks. 

Loras would cut the deficit to 18-9 following a Dylan Ross kill but the hole was too big for the Duhawks to crawl out of. The Duhawks would lose the match (22-25, 19-25, 25-22, 10-25).

Game Changer
Loras was ahead 4-3 to start the fourth set before Benedictine went on a 19-5 run to win the set and the match.

Key Stat
This is the third time this season the Duhawks have lost to the Eagles. The two previous meetings were won in straight sets. 

Notables

• Shane Marquez led the team in assists with 27.
• Blair Anderson had a solid defensive performance with 12 digs.
• Three players for the Duhawks had seven or more kills (Esporas with 12, Combs with eight and Kasprzak with seven). 

Up Next
Loras will be back at home on Friday, March 13 for another MCVL Conference game against Fontbonne University. The Griffins defeated Cincinnati Christian in their last match on March 10.