Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Loras College Athletics

Official athletics site of loras college
mvb-berka1
A&D Photography
3
Winner Loras LOR 7-10
1
Mt. Mercy MMUMVB 1-19
Winner
Loras LOR
7-10
3
Final
1
Mt. Mercy MMUMVB
1-19
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Loras LOR 25 25 19 25 (3)
Mt. Mercy MMUMVB 19 16 25 12 (1)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball |

Men's Volleyball Drops Mount Mercy

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's volleyball team ended a three-game skid on Thursday night with a win over Mount Mercy in non-conference action (25-19, 25-16, 19-25, 25-12). Sophomore Greg Kinney led the Duhawk attack with 11 kills and hit .250. Defensively, freshman Joe Berka played a key role in the victory, collecting eight digs in his second start at libero this season.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED 
Set One
  • Each team traded points early on in the match with Loras having the sleight upper hand at 6-5. 
  • The Duhawks kept the pressure on and increased their lead to 12-8 after an attacking error by Mount Mercy. 
  • Out of the Mustangs' timoeut, Loras kept the pressure on and pushed their lead to 19-13 before taking set one, 25-19. 
  • Kinney paced Loras in the first frame, finishing with four kills and hitting .300.

Set Two
  • Mount Mercy jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but a kill by sophomore Austin Kuchenbecker concluded a 7-1 run that forced a timeout by the Mustangs. 
  • Loras kept the pressure on after the timeout, opening up a 20-9 lead, allowing them to finish set two handedly, 25-16.

Set Three
  • The Mustangs earned another early lead at 7-5 after a service ace from Jaime Araiza and used the ace to fuel an extended run that opened a 15-9 lead.
  • Loras chipped away at the deficit as the set progressed, but was unable to get over the hump, falling 25-19, sending the match to the fourth set.

Set Four
  • The Duhawks regained their form from the jump in the final frame, using a kill from Kinney to take an early 8-4 lead, forcing a Mustang timeout.
  • With this margin in hand, Loras kept its foot on the gas pedal for the duration of the fourth set, dropping Mount Mercy 25-12 to take the match, 3-1. 

NOTABLES
  • With the victory, Loras improves its overall record to 7-10
  • Freshman Andrew DeLeon recorded his first assists of his Duhawk career, tallying four in one set played
  • In his second start at libero for the Duhawks, Berka recorded a career-best eight digs

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME 
Greg Kinney | The sophomore from Las Vegas, Nev. continued his improved play of late, posting 11 kills and a .250 attack percentage in four sets.  Kinney also racked up eight digs, two service aces and an assist for a well-rounded night on the court.

SOUNDBITES | Alfredo Lopez, Joe Berka and Greg Kinney

SOUNDBITES | Head Coach Jeremy Thornburg

UP NEXT 
The Duhawks return to MCVL competition on Saturday with a road match against Marian. The Sabres enter with a 6-11 overall record and 3-7 conference mark after losing 3-0 to MSOE their last time out. First serve from inside Sadoff Gymnasium is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.