UOlivet loses five-set thriller Aquinas in home-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet men's volleyball team lost a thrilling five-set match to Aquinas College in its home-opener tonight at the Cutler Event Center.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Aquinas defeated Ikuvet 21-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-16, 15-9
• Location: Cutler Event Center; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 1-4 overall, Aquinas 1-2 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Comets jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first set. Olivet extended its advantage to as many as seven points, 24-17. The Saints closed the gap to three points, 24-21, before a kill by freshman Hayden Olson ended the set.
• The second set was back-and-forth as neither team held a sizeable lead until Aquinas went ahead 21-16. Olivet trimmed its deficit down to four points twice, but the Saints ended the set on a 3-0 run to win it, 25-18.
• The third set was like the second. The Comets took the largest lead for either team at four points on four occasions. After the fourth time at 22-18, the Saints came back with a 4-0 run to tie the score. Aquinas leveled the score two more times at 23-23 and 24-24. A service error put Olivet at set point and a service ace by sophomore Payton Hastings handed the set to the Comets. For the set, Olivet posted a .692 attack percentage (19 kills, with one error on 26 attempts).
• The teams traded attack errors and service errors to begin the fourth set. The Saints responded with three straight points to go up 4-1. Aquinas did not relinquish its lead for the rest of the set.
• The Saints carried the momentum into the deciding set, racing out to a 5-1 lead. The Comets fought back to trim the deficit down to a single point, 8-7. Aquinas ended the set on a 7-2 run.

FOR THE COMETS

• For the match, Olivet recorded season-highs in kills (55) and attack percentage (.342).
• Sophomore Silas Martin slammed down a match-best 19 kills.
• Freshman Micah Stine was next with 11 kills.
• Hastings finished with nine kills on 12 attempts for a .750 hitting percentage. He also had two solo blocks.
• Freshman Hayden Olson tallied eight kills, followed by freshman Jared Carter with seven.
• Freshman Austin Chamblee tallied team-highs in set assists (43) and digs (nine).

UP NEXT

• The Comets' next match is Friday against Edgewood College (Wis.) for the first day of the Marian University (Wis.) Sabre Classic. First serve is at 5:30 p.m. ET. The classic continues Saturday morning when Olivet faces Westminster College (Mo.) at 10 a.m. ET and the host school at 2 p.m. ET.