DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's volleyball team remained disciplined and focused over the course of a five-set battle with Wittenberg on Saturday afternoon, prevailing for the 3-2 victory. Sophomores Jimmy Combs and Dylan Ross combined for 23 kills, 16 total blocks and six digs.

POST GAME NOTES

• Loras faced off with MCVL-foe, the Wittenberg Tigers, in the first of two matches on Saturday.
• The Tigers got out to a fast start in set one and took a 6-1 lead early, forcing a timeout from head coach Jeremy Thornburg.
• Although Wittenberg maintained advantage through the middle portion of the set, Loras made a four-point run when trailing 17-12, cutting the score to within one after a service ace from sophomore Danny Krasich.
• From this point, the Duhawks continued to chip into the Tigers' advantage for the remainder of the frame, eventually grabbing hold of the lead, 26-25.
• However, Wittenberg scored four of the remaining five points to take a wild set, 29-27.
• Set two featured very even play from both sides, which resulted in the score being tied at 10 after a service ace from freshman Ryan Galvan.
• Another service ace, this time from freshman Greg Kinney, gave Loras a 13-11 advantage.
• Both teams continued to trade points as the set progressed until the Duhawks swung the momentum in their favor, scoring four consecutive points and taking a 22-16 lead that prompted a Tiger timeout.
• Loras was able to maintain this advantage for the remainder of the set and a kill from freshman Alfredo Lopez completed its 25-20 victory, knotting the set score at 1-all.
• Set three was once again very close in the early going as a kill from sophomore Jimmy Combs made the score 9-9.
• After an error from Kinney, the Tigers used an 8-2 run to open up a sizeable six-point lead in the frame.
• Although a kill from Galvan got the Duhawks within two points at 23-21, the Tigers finished out the frame with a kill, winning 25-22 and took a 2-1 lead in the match.
• Needing a response after, Loras came out re-energized and opened up a 4-0 lead thanks to aggressive serving from sophomore Kyle Zacok.
• From this point, the Duhawks never looked back in the frame as their lead ballooned to ten points after a Zacok kill made the score 17-7.
• After establishing this cushion, Loras cruised to victory in the fourth set by a score of 25-16.
• In the fifth and deciding set, both teams jockeyed for position early on as a kill from Wittenberg tied the score at 4-all.
• The Duhawks took hold of the advantage after this with back-to-back kills from sophomore Dylan Ross and Combs, forcing a Tiger timeout.
• After changing sides, Loras increased its margin further with Zacok at the service line, taking a 14-9 lead after a Lopez kill.
• The Duhawks completed their victory in come-back fashion when a Wittenberg attacking error closed out the set at 15-11, earning Loras the win, 3-2. 
• Combs had a season-high 13 kills and 8 total blocks after checking in midway through set one.
• Loras recorded a program record 16.0 team blocks in the five sets.
• The Duhawks improve to 7-11 overall and 2-7 in MCVL play while the Tigers fall to 12-8 and 2-6 in conference action.

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jimmy Combs | Combs registered season-highs of 13 kills and seven block assists adding one solo block in Loras' five-set victory.

SOUNDBITES | Greg Kinney and Jimmy Combs

SOUNDBITES | Dylan Ross and Jeremy Thornburg


UP NEXT
The Duhawks are back to action Saturday night, as they host Ottawa University in non-conference action.