DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The midseason slump continued for the Loras men's volleyball program, who dropped its fourth consecutive match, falling at home to Lakeland, 3-0. Sophomore
Dylan Ross led the offense with 10 kills, running his season total to 118.
LORAS HIGHLIGHTS - In the second match of Loras' weekend homestand, the Duhawks took on Lakeland in a Saturday afternoon MCVL tilt.
- Loras looked energized at the beginning of set one as the Duhawks raced out to a 6-3 advantage following a kill from sophomore Dylan Ross.
- After each side traded a few points, a ball handling error by Addison Mertler extended the gap to four points for Loras as they led 10-6.
- However, Lakeland used a 7-1 run with the score 14-11 in the Duhawks' favor to seize the momentum in the first frame.
- After a timeout from head coach Jeremy Thornburg, Loras battled back to erase this deficit which was cut to two after a kill and ace from Ross made the score 19-17.
- At this point, the Muskies went on their second run of the frame and closed out the set with a 5-1 run.
- A Duhawk attacking error clinched the set one victory for Lakeland by a score of 25-18.
- Ross totaled six kills and a service ace in set one alone.
- With the Muskies having found their rhythm in the latter portion of set one, set two carried over the momentum, helping Lakeland open a 9-5 lead.
- After a kill from freshman Greg Kinney made the score 9-6, Lakeland reeled off seven straight points to take a firm grip of the set.
- Both sides traded points from here to close out the frame, with the Muskies winning handedly, 25-12.
- Trailing in the match two sets to none, Loras again fell victim to a string of Lakeland points in set three.
- With the Duhawks leading 2-1 early on, the Muskies scored six consecutive points which prompted a Loras timeout.
- After the break in action, the Duhawks fought back and nearly erased the early deficit as the score was 14-13 after two consecutive Lakeland errors.
- This would be as close as Loras could manage, as another four-point run from the Muskies reopened the gap and held the Duhawks at bay.
- Lakeland took set three 25-21 and thus the match 3-0, improving to 13-5 overall and 6-1 in the MCVL.
- With the loss, the Duhawks fall to 6-10 and 1-6 in the MCVL.
- Ross recorded ten kills to lead the Loras attack and has now registered double-digit kills in six matches this season.
- This was third time facing the Muskies this season for Loras and they have been defeated all three times.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Austin Kuchenbecker | The freshman middle totaled four kills and added three total blocks (one solo) in Saturday's loss.
UP NEXTLoras will aim to regroup before next weekend that brings three opponents into the Athletic & Wellness Center, two of which are MCVL contestants. Friday night, Loras will host Mount St. Joseph before a doubleheader on Saturday that brings Wittenberg and Ottawa to campus.
