Contact:
Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970
Feb. 14, 2020 – In a seesaw match from the beginning, the Loras College men's volleyball team (6-3) fell victim to the RV Benedictine University Eagles (6-4) on Friday night, dropping a 3-0 decision.
Patrick Hollander started the Duhawks off with a service ace to open the match and kills from
Ian Walsh,
Dorian Fiorenza and
Patrick Mahoney gave Loras the 8-7 lead. The Eagles went on a short 3-0 run to lead 10-8, but a kill from Walsh tied the score 12-12 and a kill from Fiorenza followed by an error by Benedictine put Loras ahead 14-13. It continued to be a back-and-forth battle until Benedictine took off on a five-point run to lead 20-15 and held the momentum to take the first set, 25-20.
The Eagles opened the set ahead 7-4 but a kill and ace from Walsh and another kill by Fiorenza tied the score 7-7. Loras took its first lead of the set after
Andres Martinez denied Benedictine's John Davis at the net with a block, but the Eagles responded with five more points to lead 13-9. The Duhawks chipped away at Benedictine's lead as the Eagles held a 20-18 advantage and pulled within one point after a block from
Jake Filotto and Martinez and an attack sent long by Benedictine. Filotto added two kills to stall the Eagles at set point, but Benedictine took the second set, 25-22.
Walsh gave the Duhawks the first point of the third set with a kill off the hands of Hollander and the Duhawks regained the lead 9-7 with kills from Hollander and Filotto and an ace from Fiorenza. Loras held onto the lead for the next few points before Benedictine once again found a rhythm and took control, 18-16. The Eagles edged Loras 6-4 in the final points to take the third set, 25-20 and win the match.
Walsh and Fiorenza had ten kills and one service ace each while Filotto tallied eight kills. Mahoney had three blocks and Hollander lent a hand with 30 assists while
Ryne Anders came away with six digs. As a team, Loras led Benedictine in kills (33-31), block (6-4) and assists (32-29). The Duhawks also had a match-high .370 hitting percentage in the first set.
Loras returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 15 to begin College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play, hosting Greenville University. First serve is set for noon at Lillis Court.
