by Eric Willuweit

Aurora, Ill. - After a tough 3-1 loss against conference foe Aurora University in the opening match, the Illinois Tech men's volleyball team rebounded to take the second match against Endicott College 3-1 for a split in the tri-match at Aurora Saturday afternoon. The Scarlet Hawks dropped to 4-2 in NACC play, and moved to 9-12 overall on the season.

"Today's matches were very competitive" said Head Coach Mike Oswald. "While we had a chance to really push Aurora, their serving, blocking and effective offense proved to be a bit too much today. We got away from our game plan a little bit and went back to it too late. Back to work with a week in our gym to get ready for SNC (St. Norbert College)" said Oswald.

Aurora 3 - Illinois Tech 1

• Set 1 - After the Scarlet Hawks scored three straight points to tie set one at 4-4, Aurora went on a 4-0 run to take an 8-4 lead they would never relinquish. The Hawks would eventually pull within one point at 9-8, but that would be the closest they would get to the Spartans in the opening frame. Aurora finished with a 16-8 run to take set one 25-16.
• Set 2 - With the set tied at 13-13, the Scarlet Hawks used a mini 3-0 run to take a 16-13 lead. The Spartans would take the next two points to trail 16-15. The Scarlet Hawks chipped away and opened up a 24-20 lead late. Aurora won the next three points to close within one point at 24-23, but the Hawks were able to wrestle set point for the 25-23 victory.
• Set 3 - Illinois Tech opened with a 4-0 run, countered by a 4-0 run by the Spartans to tie the set at 4-4. The Hawks responded with a 3-0 run, which was again countered by the Spartans with a 3-0 run of their own for a 7-7 tie. Aurora was able to build a five-point lead on three occasions, the latest at 19-14. After the Scarlet Hawks won the subsequent point to trail 19-15, Aurora closed out the set with a 6-0 run for the 25-15 victory.
• Set 4 - The Scarlet Hawks hung around for most of set four, pulling within two points at 19-17 and again at 24-22. But Aurora closed out the set and the match on the next point, 25-22

Illinois Tech 3 - Endicott 1

• Set 1 - In an epic first set, Illinois Tech and Endicott battled through 15 tie scores and six lead changes. The Scarlet Haws held a 22-19 lead late in the set until the Gulls ran off five straight points to reach set point at 24-22. The Hawks won the next two points to tie the set at 24-24. The Scarlet Hawks would move into set point five subsequent times, and each time the Gulls would answer, the last at 29-29. But on the sixth try, the Hawks secured set one 31-29.
• Set 2 - Illinois Tech led most of the first half of set two, the latest a 13-11 lead. But a 6-1 run gave the Gulls a 17-14 lead. With Endicott holding a 20-18 lead, the Scarlet Hawks ran off five straight points to take a 23-20 lead. The Gulls responded by scoring the next three points to tie the match 23-23. But a service error by Endicott and a service ace by Illinois Tech gave the Scarlet Hawks a 25-23 set victory.
• Set 3 - The teams traded points, with the Scarlet Hawks holding a 9-8 lead. The Gulls, however, would counter with a 4-0 run to take a 12-9 lead, one the Hawks would be unable to overcome. The Gulls would use a 13-10 run to close out the set 25-19.
• Set 4 - Set four also proved to be a back and forth affair, with 6 lead changes and 16 tie scores, including 20-20, 21-21 and 22-22. But at 22-22, the Scarlet Hawks won the next three points to secure the 25-22 set four and match victory.

Scarlet Hawks Standouts - Combined Matches

• Paul Henderson paced the Scarlet Hawks with 17 kills, 6 service aces and 19 digs.
• Grant Couper added 15 kills and 3 service aces.
• David Singer had 11 kills with a .308 attack rate.
• Elijah Johnson with 40 assists and 7 combined blocks.
• Jelani Kimoto paced the Hawks with 10 combined blocks.

Up Next

The Scarlet Hawks will head to St. Norbert College on Friday for a 7:00 PM NACC matchup.