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

STEVENSON, Md. (Feb. 1, 2020) – The Loras College men's volleyball team wrapped up its week-long trip to the East coast and faced two nationally acclaimed teams on Saturday, taking No. 12 Stevenson University (6-2) to four sets before falling 3-1 to the Mustangs and forced  RV Lancaster Bible College to extra points in two of the three sets in a 3-0 loss.

In the first match of the day, the Duhawks took an early 5-2 lead against the No. 12 Mustangs thanks to two kills from Ian Walsh and a service ace by Jake Filotto. Both teams traded points, vying for the lead as kills from Dorian Fiorenza and Andres Martinez put the Duhawks ahead again, 10-9. The Mustangs found momentum and began to build a lead, pulling ahead 23-18. Ryne Anders found Filotto for a kill and David Beach came up with a solo block to cut the score, 23-20, but Stevenson held on to take the first set 25-21.

The momentum continued for Stevenson in the second set as the Mustangs led 10-5. Kills from Patrick Hollander, Walsh, Fiorenza and Filotto helped the Duhawks battle back but Stevenson took over a seven-point lead off a service error by the Duhawks, leading 21-14. The Mustangs gave up an error to give the Duhawks the serve and a block from Walsh and Filotto cut the deficit to four, 23-19, but the Mustangs scored the final two points to end the second set 25-19.

The third set proved to be the highlight for Loras as two blocks from Fiorenza and Martinez and a kill gave them the 3-0 lead. Loras then added a six-point run, sparked by a kill from Fiorenza and two service aces for the freshman to put the Duhawks ahead 9-1. It was Fiorenza again who scored a kill that doubled-up the Mustangs, 14-7, and he ended the set with a kill to give Loras its first set win against a nationally-ranked opponent this season.

In the fourth set, the Mustangs maintained control throughout, taking the lead early and never letting it go. Martinez, Walsh, Filotto, Beach, Fiorenza hit kills that kept Loras within striking distance throughout the heart of the set, but the Mustangs had two late-set runs that gave enough of an edge to hand the Duhawks their first loss of the East coast tour, taking the fourth set 25-18.

In the second match of the day against the Chargers, the Duhawks were forced to play catch up early, but kills from Filotto and Fiorenza and a solo block from Walsh tied the score 5-5. Loras took the first lead of the set after the Chargers committed three errors and put the Duhawks ahead 16-14, but Lancaster Bible responded with three points to take the lead. Two more errors by the Chargers tied the score 23-23 in the critical final points and the Duhawks capitalized to thwart set point twice thanks to kills from Walsh and Fiorenza off the hands of Hollander, but Lancaster Bible held on and scored the final two points to take the first set, 27-26.

The second set started in similar fashion to the first but the Duhawks had been here before and remained patient, forcing its opponent to make three errors and open the door to tie the score 10-10. The Chargers tried to regain control but three kills from Fiorenza tied the scored three times and a block from Filotto and Walsh gave the Duhawks their first lead of the set at 14-13. Lancaster Bible scored five straight to take back an 18-14 lead, but Loras added four points shortly thereafter to tie it back up, 22-22. Lancaster Bible scored two more and set up for set point, but a kill from Fiorenza and an ace for the freshman forced extra points. The Chargers took back the serve with the score 25-26 and scored a service ace to win the set, 26-24.

In the third set and seventh of the day for the Duhawks, both teams traded points before Loras took a 6-5 lead off an error by the Chargers, but Lancaster Bible went on a 13-point run to lead Loras 18-6. Joe Horn connected with Fiorenza to hit a kill and stop the Chargers' extended streak, but it was not enough as the Duhawks surrendered the third set 25-11.

Between both matches, Fiorenza led the Duhawks with 30 combined kills and a five service aces and Martinez had nine blocks. Anders had 27 total digs and Loras hit a match-high 0.522 hitting percentage in the third set against the Mustangs, hitting 15 kills on 23 total attempts.

The Duhawks return home to host Concordia University Wisconsin on Wednesday, Feb. 5. First serve is set for 7 P.M.