by Eric Willuweit

Alliance, Ohio. – After starting the young season 0-3, the Illinois Tech men's volleyball team found their footing this weekend in at Mount Union University in Alliance, Ohio, taking two of three matches and gaining some momentum as the calendar flips to February in a few days. After Saturday's 3-0 win against Mount St. Joseph, the Scarlet Hawks improved to 2-4 on the season.

Jackson Van Engen turned in a stellar performance for the Scarlet Hawks over the three matches, leading the team with 22 kills, an attack rate of .500, to go along with 10 total blocks. Elijah Johnson had 60 assists on the weekend.

How It Happened

Illinois Tech 3 – Thiel 0 – Friday, January 27

• After trailing 6-4 early in set one, the Scarlet Hawks used a 5-0 run to gain control of the set, with Thiel getting no closer than 3 points the rest of the way en route to a 25-18 set one Illinois Tech victory.
• Set two followed a similar path as set one, with Thiel holding an early advantage of 4-3 before a mini-run of 4-0 by the Scarlet Hawks put them in front to stay. The Hawks would extend their lead to nine points on multiple occasions, including the final score margin of 25-16.
• Thiel challenged in set three, holding a five-point lead on three occasions, the last coming at 12-7. A 15-3 run by the Scarlet Hawks nullified Thiel's advantage, and gave Illinois Tech a 22-15 lead, and concluded with a 25-19 set three and match victory.

Mount Union 3 – Illinois Tech 0 – Friday, January 27

• The Scarlet Hawks never led in set one. After trading points on the first four serves, Mount Union methodically put distance between themselves and the Hawks, en route to a 25-18 set one victory.
• The Scarlet Hawks and the Raiders could not establish an edge in the first 20 points of the match, with the teams tied at 10-10 nearing the midway point. The Hawks held ten leads during the sequence, but each time Mount Union answered back. The Raiders were able to wrestle control of the set at this point, using a 5-0 run to take a 15-10 lead, with the Scarlet Hawks running out of gas in the set, falling 25-16.
• Set three proved to be the Scarlet Hawks best set of the match, as Illinois Tech jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. The Raiders would chip away, however, drawing even with the Hawks at 8-8. The teams remained within one point midway through the set, with Mount Union holding a 15-14 lead. A 4-0 run by the Raiders gave them the cushion they were looking for, and although the Scarlet Hawks closed within two points at 24-22, they were unable to break match point, losing set three 25-22.

Illinois Tech 3 – Mount St. Joseph 0 – Saturday, January 28

• After the two teams playing even at 6-6 in set one, the Scarlet Hawks led the rest of the way, opening a 7 point advantage at 22-15. The Lions would battle to close within one point at 24-23, but a kill by Van Engen gave the Hawks their 25-23 set one victory.
• Set two followed the same script as set one, with the two teams again playing even at 6-6 before the Scarlet Hawks built a 16-9 advantage. The Lions would counter with a 9-2 run to tie the set at 18-18. The teams traded leads down the stretch, with the Lions holding set point at 24-23. The Hawks won the next two points to advance to set point at 25-24. The Lions would not go quietly, however, gaining set points on three occasions, the last with a 28-27 advantage. The Scarlet Hawks would claim the next three points to close out the set with a 30-28 victory.
• The Scarlet Hawks trailed the majority of the first half of set three, trailing by three points at 12-9. A 7-0 run by Illinois Tech gave the Hawks a 16-12 lead. The Lions would chip away, eventually drawing even at 23-23. But the Scarlet Hawks closed out the set and the match, taking the next two points for the 25-23 set three victory.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts – January 27 & 28 Combined

• Van Engen paced the Hawks with 22 kills to go with a .500 attack percentage. He also recorded 7 solo blocks and 3 block assists for 10 combined blocks.
• Michal Markevych added 18 kills and a .308 attack rate.
• Grant Couper added 19 kills and 4 blocks.
• Riley Laite finished with 18 kills and paced the Hawks with 57 receptions without error.
• Johnson led with 60 assists.

Up Next

The Scarlet Hawks will be back on Joe Hakes Court at the Keating Sports Center on Saturday, February 4, when they host Fontbonne in a non-conference matchup at 10:00 AM.