Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

ARLINGTON, Va. (Jan. 29, 2020) – Playing its first road match of the 2020 campaign, the Loras College men's volleyball (2-0) team started its four-game stretch of matches on the East coast with a 3-1 win against Marymount University (5-5) on Wednesday night.

The Saints maintained an edge throughout the opening points of the first set, challenging the Duhawks to tie the score or trail by one. A kill by Dorian Fiorenza off the set from Patrick Hollander helped the Duhawks knot the score 14-14 and force Marymount to make an error on the next point, taking the 15-14 lead. The Saints rallied back and soon held a set point advantage up 24-22, but the Duhawks demonstrated patience and perseverance, forcing Marymount to commit three errors before Andres Martinez, Fiorenza and David Beach teamed up for a massive block to give the Duhawks the first set, 26-24.

A pair of kills from Firoenza and Jake Filotto put Loras ahead to start the second set and hold onto the advantage until the Saints charged back with three-straight points to edge Loras, 10-9. The Duhawks took back the lead after Walsh, Fiorenza, Martinez, Beach and Hollander all joined the block party, coming up with three blocks to help Loras take a one-point lead midway through the set, 15-14. Marymount found a late spark to close the set and handed the Duhawks their first set of the young season, winning 25-23.

The Duhawks came out with a fire in the third set, not ready to let the Saints take another, and jumped ahead to an early 7-3 lead with blocks from Martinez, Filotto, and Fiorenza and two kills. Loras capitalized on costly mistakes by Marymount in the heart of the set as the Saints gave up seven points on a nine-point run for the Duhawks, highlighted by a kill from Walsh and a service ace from Beach. Now leading 18-7, Loras was able to build upon the lead and take the third set by a score of 25-17.

Loras was ready to end the match in four though the Saints were entering the fourth set ready to fight until the last point. Marymount took a 7-5 lead to open the set but six kills from Fiorenza and strong defensive play by Martinez and Beach at the net put Loras ahead 22-21 with match point on the horizon. The Saints added one more point onto the board but the Duhawks had the final say as bookend kills from Walsh and one from Filotto sealed the win for Loras, 25-22.

Fiorenza led the team with 17 kills and 12 digs while Walsh had ten kills and Filotto had six. Martinez had a team-high five blocks and Walsh added three of his own while Kevin Kessel tallied two service aces and Hollander had 37 assists.

The Duhawks' next match is set for Friday, Jan. 31 against Nazareth College on the first day of the Stevenson University Triangular. First serve is set for 7 P.M (ET).