DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - All was looking bright for the Loras men's volleyball team who started Friday's match by taking the first set against Fontbonne, but the Griffins stormed back to take the final three sets and win the match, 3-1. Freshman
Austin Kuchenbecker finished with seven blocks while adding seven kills as the Duhawks dropped to 10-15 overall and 4-8 in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League.
LORAS HIGHLIGHTS - In the first match of Loras' last home stand of 2016, they took on the Fontbonne Griffins in an MCVL contest on Friday night inside the Athletic & Wellness Center on Lillis Court.
- In set one, the Duhawks found themselves behind early, trailing by five at the 14-9 mark.
- However, Loras showed its resolve in this frame, using a 6-1 run which was sparked by a block from sophomores Dylan Ross and Jimmy Combs to even the score at 15-all.
- After a Griffin timeout, both sides traded points until three consecutive Fontbonne errors gave the Duhawks a 20-18 advantage.
- The Griffins made a push late in the frame, cutting the deficit down to one at 21-20, but Loras ripped off four consecutive points to take the set one victory, 25-20.
- Freshman Austin Kuchenbecker was the catalyst for the Duhawks, recording four kills and three blocks in frame number one.
- After opening a 4-1 lead out of the gates in set two, Loras succumbed to a 7-1 run by Fontbonne, which resulted in a major swing in momentum.
- A three-point run by Loras, which included a kill from freshman Ryan Galvan, erased this deficit and tied the score at 13-all midway through set two.
- The Griffins clamped down and used a 6-1 run to open a five-point lead that they held firm on the rest of the set.
- The Duhawks battled at the end of the frame, scoring three straight points to bring the set to within one at 24-23, but a service error by freshman Greg Kinney quelled the Loras rally and handed Fontbonne the set two win, 25-23.
- Set three was dominated by the Griffins from the opening service, resulting in a 7-2 lead.
- As was the case throughout the match, Loras did its best to climb out of this hole, shrinking the deficit to two with the score 14-12.
- Once again, Fontbonne controlled the momentum and swung it back in its favor, igniting a six-point run to take a 20-12 lead.
- This time, the Duhawks faced too large of a deficit to overcome, dropping set three, 25-18.
- In what would turn out to be the fourth and deciding set, Loras seemed to have put the previous two sets behind them, opening a 7-5 lead.
- However, a slew of Loras errors brought Fontbonne back into contention and stifled any momentum that had been built by the start.
- Midway through set four, the Griffins held the advantage at 13-9.
- The Griffins continued to stretch their lead, ballooning to as many as eight points at 18-10.
- With Galvan at the service line, the Duhawks cut the deficit to 18-15, but could not manage to gain any further ground in the frame.
- A Fontbonne kill ended the set by a score of 25-17, giving the Griffins the match victory by a 3-1 score.
- The Griffins improve to 17-9 overall and 4-8 in the MCVL while Loras falls to 10-15 overall and 4-8 in conference play.
- Kuchenbecker's seven blocks is a career-best for the freshman.
- Galvan tied his season-high with three assisted blocks.
- Freshman Aaron Miller tied a season-high with four assists.
- Freshman libero Chris Paige recorded a season-high three assists.
- Freshman Martin Rodriguez came on in set three and finished with seven kills, a season-best.
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FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jimmy Combs | The sophomore middle was an effective target for both setters on Friday, putting away seven of his 17 attacks for kills, resulting in a .294 attack percentage. Defensively, Combs added four blocks, including one solo along with three digs.
SOUNDBITES | Austin Kuchenbecker & Jeremy ThornburgUP NEXTLoras concludes the regular season at home on Saturday against Greenville. The Panthers are a first year program and are coming off a 3-0 win on Friday night against North Central. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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