Contact: Nathan Cameron, Assistant Athletic Communications Director, 563-588-7243

Feb. 24, 2021 - The Loras College men's volleyball team (2-2, 1-1 CCIW) hosted the Millikin University Big Blue (0-4, 0-3 CCIW) at Lillis Court on Wednesday for their 2021 home opener. The Duhawks swept Millikin in a straight three sets, pushed forward by Patrick Mahoney who had a stellar night both offensively and defensively for Loras with 12 kills and four blocks to his name. 

Peter Sailsman opened the first set with a kill in favor of the Big Blue but kills from Tucker Ziegenhorn and Andres Martinez immediately followed to give the Duhawks the lead. The first point of the set would be the only time the Duhawks trailed to Millikin in the entirety of the set, pulling away by five in the middle portion of the set after attacking errors plagued the Big Blue. Later in the first set with Dorian Fiorenza serving, the Duhawks continued the attack, adding six straight points to the board with Fiorenza posting two aces and a kill, and Mahoney recording a kill in the series. The set ended on a heavy-handed kill from Tyler Kratochvil to give the Duhawks a 25-15 set victory. 

The Duhawks never fell behind Millikin in the second, holding the lead for the entirety of the set. Back to back attacking errors put the Duhawks up from the start, shortly followed by another service error from the Big Blue, a kill from Jake Filloto and a service ace from Joe Horn to put Loras up 8-4. Later, Michael Dziewior posted back to back aces at the service line widening the Duhawks' lead to 15-6. At the end of the set, Horn followed suit and recorded back to back aces of his own to give the Duhawks their widest lead of the set at 23-11. A kill from Fiorenza put an end to the second set to give Loras a 2-0 advantage going into the third. 

Set number three saw the Duhawks face their toughest challenge of the night, taking an early 6-3 lead on the Big Blue on back to back errors from Millikin's Kyle Clendenen. The two teams traded blows through the middle portion of the set, but Loras held the lead until the Big Blue pulled ahead on a three point scoring run. The 18-17 lead in the set was the first time in the match that Millikin had a lead on the Duhawks. Back and forth scoring quickly ensued between the two CCIW foes, forcing the set into extra points to decide a winner. Mahoney put an end to the match scoring two straight for the Duhawks, winning the third set 30-28. 

Senior Mahoney catapulted the Duhawks to the victory with a stellar performance at the net with 12 kills and four blocks. He was joined defensively by Martinez and Horn who both added two blocks. At the service line, Horn excelled with three aces on the night with both Fiorenza and Dziewior posting two a piece. 

The Duhawks return to Lillis Court on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 PM as they host North Park University in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) tilt. Per CCIW attendance guidelines, no spectators are allowed at athletic contests.