SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Loras College men's volleyball team opened its 2025 season at the Jim Coleman Memorial Invitational hosted by Wittenberg University this past Friday and Saturday.
The Duhawks finished with a 2-1 record, defeating the host in four sets on day one, before falling 3-0 to No. 1-ranked Southern Virginia University to start off day two. The Purple and Gold closed out its first tournament of the season with a 3-0 sweep over Randolph College.
Loras 3, Wittenberg 1
Game Facts
- The Duhawks fell behind by as many as five points multiple times throughout the opening set but used a 6-0 run to take a 24-22 lead later on. The Tigers outscored the Purple and Gold 5-1 in the final points of the set to earn a 27-25 set one win.
- Loras held a five-point lead (23-18) over Wittenberg in set two, but the Tigers strung together five consecutive points to tie things up at 23-23. Both squads traded off points until a pair of errors by the home team and a Corey Mayotte service ace sealed the 29-27 set two victory for the Duhawks.
- The Purple and Gold led the entirety of the third set, increasing their lead to as many as seven (17-10) at one point. The Duhawks took a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-19 set three win.
- Neither team led by more than two points in the fourth set. Loras broke the final tie at 23-23 with a kill from Evan Dziadkowiec and a Wittenberg attack error to earn the 25-23 set four win to take the match.
- Loras hit .234 as a team, tallying 47 kills and 21 errors in 111 attempts
- Corey Mayotte: 23 kills, 3 service aces, 12 digs
- Evan Dziadkowiec: 37 assists
- Nolan Krygsheld: 11 kills, 3 blocks
Southern Virginia 3, Loras 0
Game Facts
- The Purple and Gold fell in straight sets to the Knights by scores of 25-18, 25-21 and 25-19
- Loras hit .159, which included 23 kills and 12 errors in 69 attempts
- Corey Mayotte: 9 kills
- Evan Dziadkowiec: 19 assists, 3 blocks, 5 digs
Loras 3, Randolph 0
Game Facts
- The Duhawks used a 3-0 run that included a kill from Aidan Peloquin and back-to-back blocks from Roman Rothermel and Corey Mayotte to take the lead (10-8) that they would hold onto for the remainder of the set. Loras took the opening set 25-15.
- Loras fought back from a five-point deficit (12-7) with a 6-0 run to take a 13-12 lead midway through the second set. The Duhawks benefited from three consecutive Wildcat errors, which broke the final tie at 15-15, giving the Purple and Gold an 18-15 lead. Loras took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-19 set two win.
- The Duhawks dominated the Wildcats in the final set, rattling off seven straight points to lead 11-3 early on. The Purple and Gold increased their lead to as many as 13 (23-10) to earn their first sweep of the season with a 25-13 set three win over Randolph.
- As a team, the Duhawks hit .500, finishing with 42 kills and nine errors in 66 attempts.
- Corey Mayotte: 15 kills, 4 service aces, 2 blocks
- Evan Dziadkowiec: 32 assists, 6 digs
- Roman Rothermel: 6 kills, 3 blocks
Up Next: The Duhawks travel to Mequon, Wis. on Friday, Jan. 31 to take on the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
