Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Loras College Athletics

Official athletics site of loras college
mvb-ross2
2
Benedictine (IL) BENU 3-5 (2-2 MCVL)
3
Winner Loras LOR 4-4 (2-3 MCVL)
Benedictine (IL) BENU
3-5 (2-2 MCVL)
2
Final
3
Loras LOR
4-4 (2-3 MCVL)
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Benedictine (IL) BENU 27 25 25 25 10 (2)
Loras LOR 29 27 18 20 15 (3)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball |

Duhawks Top Benedictine in MCVL Home Opener

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's volleyball team pulled out a dramatic five-set victory over Benedictine in Friday's MCVL home opener (29-27, 27-25, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10). Junior Dylan Ross and sophomores Greg Kinney and Alfredo Lopez posted double-digit kills in the match, with the trio combining for 43 of the Duhawks' 61 kills. Defensively, sophomore Austin Kuchenbecker racked up seven blocks and sophomore Aaron Miller led Loras with 12 digs. The win is the second MCVL home victory in program history for the Duhawks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set One
  • Loras rattled off three straight points to take a 14-10 lead in the first frame following two Lopez kills coupled with a Benedictine error.
  • The Eagles evened the score late in the set, but the Duhawks regrouped, using extra volleyball to claim the victory in set one, 29-27.

Set Two
  • Lopez and Ross went for back-to-back kills midway through set two, opening up a 17-13 lead to force a Benedictine timeout.
  • Again, the Eagles clawed back to even the score before the sets completion, but consecutive kills from Ross and sophomore Greg Kinney ended the frame in the Duhawks' favor, winning 27-25.

Set Three
  • A three-point run from Benedictine prompted a timeout from head coach Jeremy Thornburg, trailing 18-15.
  • After the break in action, the Eagles continued to extend the margin, taking set three easily, 25-18.

Set Four
  • With the score tied at 8-all, Benedictine continued to build its momentum in the match, scoring four-straight to force a Loras timeout.
  • The Duhawks chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to two at the 20-18 mark, but ultimately couldn't overcome this deficit in set four, losing 25-20 to even the match, 2-2.

Set Five
  • A kill from freshman Ian Walsh followed by two Eagle attacking errors opened up a critical 7-4 lead for Loras in the deciding frame.
  • Benedictine ran off the next two points after a timeout, but the Duhawks answered with a kill and a block from Kuchenbecker to force a second Eagle timeout. 
  • The break in action did little to slow the Loras momentum, as the Duhawks powered through to claim victory, 15-10.

NOTABLES
  • Kuchenbecker tied his career-high for blocks with seven
  • Lopez finished with a career-best 13 kills and a .435 attack percentage
  • Loras improved to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in MCVL, and now are fourth in the Western Division

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Alfredo Lopez | The sophomore from Naranjito, P.R. nearly recorded a triple-double in the match, totaling 13 kills, 23 assists and eight digs.

UP NEXT
The Duhawks return to action on Saturday as they host MSOE. The Raiders enter with a 2-1 overall record with wins over Lakeland and North Central. First serve is set for 3 p.m.