DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - For the first time in program history, the Loras men's volleyball program played hosts to an invitational tournament inside the Athletic & Wellness Center. The Duhawks went 1-1 on the day, defeating Briar Cliff (3-1) before falling to Lakeland in five (3-2). Freshman
Alfredo Lopez made the most of the time he saw on the court, finishing the second match with six kills on eight attacks, which helped spark Loras' comeback bid in the fourth set.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Dylan Ross | The sophomore outside hitter was a leader for the Duhawks, on and off the court, on Friday. His play on the court resulted in 11 kills and six total blocks, both of which tied career bests.
Alfredo Lopez | While he wasn't a part of the lineup from the get-go, Lopez bided his time and when his number was called, made the most of his opportunity. In two sets of play, Lopez tallied six kills and a .625 attack percentage.
POST GAME NOTES - BRIAR CLIFF - The Duhawks matched up with NAIA-member Briar Cliff University in their first match of the Loras Invitational.
- Loras got out to a fast start in set one and found themselves with a comfortable 9-5 lead after a Carson Cruz attacking error.
- The Chargers were able to go a run of their own, however, and take a 15-14 lead.
- Following a Greg Kinney ace to tie the set, the Duhawks took control of set one, ripping off eight straight points.
- With Loras in the driver's seat at 24-19, Ryan Galvan finished the set with a kill and gave the Duhawks the 1-0 advantage.
- Set two featured more back-and-forth play from both sides, but Briar Cliff was able to take a 12-7 lead thanks to a string of Loras errors.
- Although it looked like the set may have been decided, the Duhawks stormed back to tie the game at 14-all.
- As was the case in set one, Loras capitalized on their opportunity to close out the set, using a Jake Chudzik service ace to complete the 25-19 victory.
- Looking a bit sluggish in set three, the purple and gold found themselves trailing throughout.An error from Ryan Galvan gave Briar Cliff its largest margin of the match at 19-15.
- Although the Duhawks made a valiant comeback, thanks to some key serves from Chudzik, they couldn't complete the comeback, falling 25-23.
- Refocused after the set three defeat, Loras was extremely sharp in the fourth and deciding set.
- With the offense firing on all cylinders, the Duhawks raced out to a 16-8 lead.
- From there, Loras cruised to the decisive fourth set victory, which was capped by back-to-back service aces from freshman Alfredo Lopez.
- The win for the Duhawks marks the first home win in program history.
- Loras' offensive firepower was on full display all match posting a .293 overall attack percentage, including a whopping .647 in set four. The .293 clip is the Duhawks second highest in history.
- Freshman Jake Chudzik's four service aces are tied for the second most in a single match in Loras history.
- Sophomore Dylan Ross was a jack-of-all trades, totaling six kills and five blocks just in set one. Ross' eleven total kills, .350 attack percentage and six combined blocks are all tied for career highs in those categories.
- Combs' 10 kills was a career-best for the Penfield, N.Y. native
POST GAME NOTES - LAKELAND
- The Duhawks matched up with MCVL-foe Lakeland University in their second match of day one at the Loras Invitational.
- Loras got out to a fast start in set one and found themselves with a comfortable 13-7 lead after a Jimmy Combs' solo block.
- The Duhawks rode the wave of their momentum to a 21-12 lead, forcing a timeout from Lakeland.
- Although the Muskies made a comeback to bring the set to 23-19, Greg Kinney and Dylan Ross hammered home back-to-back kills to seal set one. Â
- Lakeland, not satisfied with the set one loss, regrouped and jumped out to a big lead on Loras. Kyle Krogstad's two consecutive service aces gave the Muskies an 11-4 advantage that they would not relinquish.
- The Duhawks battled back to make things close after a Ryan Galvan kill put it at 24-18. But, Kyle Krogstad sent his next attack past the block to seal the set two win for Lakeland and level the match at one set a piece.
- Loras committed three reception errors and eight attacking errors compared to just nine kills in set two.
- Reeling from their new found momentum in set two, Lakeland stormed out of the gates to a big lead in set three, going up 9-4 after a Duhawk attacking error. Â
- Behind the attacking play of Krogstad and Tim Robbins, the Muskies motored their way to a convincing set three win, 25-17.
- As a team, Lakeland hit .379 with 15 kills.
- The Duhawks came out firing in set four on the back of two early Alfredo Lopez kills, giving them a 9-5 lead.
- An attacking error from Robbins gave Loras an 18-13 lead late in the game.
- From then on, the Duhawks proved their set- closing ability as they finished on a 7-5 run and a Greg Kinney kill sent the match into a fifth and final frame.
- Set five was the most back-and-forth game of the day with both teams trading points throughout.
- The Muskies took a 13-10 lead late in the set thanks to a few untimely Loras errors.
- Despite a valiant fight, the Duhawks were unable to overcome the veteran Lakeland side, falling in set five, 15-12.
- Sophomore Dawid Kasprzak recorded the 100th kill of his career in tonight's match.
- Kinney's 15 kills set a season-high mark for Loras, and ranks him second all-time for kills in a five-set match.
SOUNDBITES | Jeremy ThornburgUP NEXTLoras returns to the hardwood on Saturday with a pair of matches against Illinois Tech and Calumet College of St. Joseph. Loras and IIT met in the 2016 season opener, with Loras claiming the 3-0 win.
