April 15, 2011

For just the second time in program history the Quincy University men's volleyball team recorded a win over perennial power Loyola University of Chicago. The Hawks won a thrilling 3-2 match at home on Friday kicking off senior weekend with the 24-26, 25-23, 25-27, 25-17 and 15-13 win.

Quincy recorded just their second win in program history against the #16 Ramblers and their first win since the 2001 season. In fact prior to tonight's 3-2 win the Hawks had taken just one set in the last 13 matches over the last six years.

Quincy showed no fear early on matching the Ramblers swing for swing. The two teams were even throughout the match and Quincy looked to get on the board first leading game one 24-22 . However the Ramblers finished the set with four straight kills to pick up the win. Loyola had 17 kills in the opening set, a match high.

Despite hitting just .118 as a team in the second set the Hawks were able to pull out the victory. Quincy jumped out to a 10-5 lead but saw the Ramblers rally and take a 15-14 lead. But after a kill by Joseph Ascher and an error by the Ramblers Quincy would not trail again in the set with Joseph Sokol closing the set with a kill on a set by Tanner Wright.

The two teams continued their tight play in the third set with neither team leading by more than three points in the set. Although Quincy led 25-24 with the serve the Ramblers were able to again pull the victory away from the Hawks at the end with a pair of kills and a Quincy error.

Loyola looked to be closing the match out early in the fourth when they recorded three straight aces to take a 7-2 lead but Quincy rallied and grabbed a 10-7 lead with an eight point run. From there the Hawks took control of the set, finishing with 16 kills and just two errors. Quincy took that momentum directly into the fifth and final set where they would jump out to a 9-3 lead and hold on for the win.

Quincy hit .273 as a team in the match with 63 kills and 10 total team blocks while Loyola finished hitting .216 as a team with 60 kills. Quincy had four players reach double figures in kills with Joseph Sokol leading the way with 16 while Andrew Ouano added 57 assists and Tanner Wright finished with 13 digs.

Quincy improves to 21-12 overall and 3-8 in the MIVA and close out their regular season tomorrow afternoon with a re-match against Loyola at 2 p.m. in Pepsi Arena.