MEQUON, WIS.—A four-game win streak was at stake for the Illinois Institute of Technology men's volleyball team in their Friday-night road tilt at Concordia (Wis.). The Scarlet Hawks were within striking distance late in each match, but couldn't find the win column in a 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-21) loss to the Falcons.
Illinois Tech falls to 3-5, 3-5 NACC while Concordia (Wis.) ups their record to 4-5, 4-4 NACC.
Concordia (Wis.) 3, Scarlet Hawks 0
Grant Couper was lethal for the Scarlet Hawks, as five of his 12 kills in the match occurred in the opening frame. Couper's fifth kill of the first set cut Illinois Tech's deficit to two at 21-19, before Concordia ended things with a 4-1 run to secure a 25-20 victory.
The Scarlet Hawks found themselves in a 12-5 hole in the second set, which provoked head coach Mark Johnston to call a timeout. It paid dividends for Illinois Tech, who battled back and tied the match at 24-24 before Concordia (Wis.) mustered back-to-back kills to secure a 26-24 win. Andriy Bench registered six of his 11 kills in the third frame, which resulted in a 21-21 score before three Scarlet Hawks attack errors doomed them down the stretch in a 25-21 loss.
Bench was also efficient defensively with a game-high seven digs and five blocks. Robeck also tallied five blocks for Illinois Tech. Lucas Guanes registered 28 assists for the Scarlet Hawks, who hit .155 in the match against Concordia's .255. Spencer Herman led all players with 20 kills for the Falcons.
The Scarlet Hawks will host Marian (Wis.) at the Keating Sports Center on Tuesday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m.