NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's volleyball team was victorious in four sets over conference-foe North Central on Friday night, recording their first MCVL-win of the 2016 campaign in the process. The Duhawks were led by sophomores Danny Krasich and Dylan Ross, whose veteran leadership and confident play was evident throughout the match. Krasich finished with a career-high 24 assists while Ross posted 11 kills on 27 attempts.

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME 
Dylan Ross | Ross was "Mr. Everything" again tonight for the Duhawks recording 11 kills, six digs, three solo blocks, recording a .333 attack percentage.

SOUNDBITES | Jeremy Thornburg


POST GAME NOTES 

• For the second time this season and first time in MCVL-play, Loras faced the North Central Cardinals on Friday night in Naperville, Ill. 
• Both sides traded points at the beginning of the first set as the score was knotted at 6-all.
• Loras then found its rhythm, both on offense and from the service line, ripping off seven straight points with sophomore Dylan Ross at the service line to take a decisive 13-7 lead.
• From there, the Duhawks cruised to a set one victory as a Cardinal service error closed it out and handed Loras the set one victory, 25-19.
• In the frame, Loras hit at a .368 clip and had 12 digs compared to the Cardinals' five.
• Once again, set two was evenly played for its majority in this matchup of conference foes.
• Although North Central took a small advantage at 10-8, Loras went on a five point run with freshman Alfredo Lopez serving to take a 13-10  lead.
• Loras used this cushion to keep the Cardinals at bay as a Lopez kill made the score 18-15 in their favor.
• North Central closed the gap to 21-19 after a 4-1 run of their own.
• The Duhawks ultimately prevailed in the frame as freshman Austin Kuchenbecker closed it out with a kill from the middle, giving Loras the 2-0 match lead, 25-21.
• Freshman Greg Kinney, who was injured during the second set, posted five kills in the second frame to give him nine for the match.
• Set three was all North Central in the early going as they took a 4-0 lead out of the gate.
• The Cardinals stretched the lead further as the set progressed, taking a 17-10 lead.
• The Duhawks fought back to close down the gap and found themselves trailing just 20-18 after a Ross overpass turned into a kill.
• The Cardinals regained their form at this point and finished off the set, 25-20.
• With Loras still leading 2-1 in the match, set four was the most back-and-forth frame of the night.
• Late in the period, the Duhawks seized the momentum with Ross at the line, using a three-point to take a 20-15.
• Loras showed its' finishing prowess in keeping the five-point lead the rest of the way, and with a Kuchenbecker kill, capped their first MCVL victory of 2016.
• Sophomore Danny Krasich posted career highs in both assists (24) and digs (9) in the match.
• Austin Kuchenbecker recorded a season-high seven kills, continuing his recent solid play.
• As a team, the Duhawks had a program-record seven solo blocks.
• Loras improves to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in MCVL play.

UP NEXT
The Duhawks will have a full week of rest and practice before they travel to Kenosha, Wis. to take on the No. 3 Carthage Red Men next Friday night at 7 p.m.  Carthage is 3-0 in conference play this season and face Fontbonne in MCVL play on Saturday, Feb. 13.

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