No. 15 Loras Clip Falcons in Season Opener

DUBUQUE, Iowa – On Friday night, the CUW men's volleyball team opened their season on the road against the formidable Duhawks of Loras College, a team that ranked 15th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) rankings. 

In a close back-and-forth match between the two schools, Loras would enjoy the three-set victory, 25-19, 25-19, and 25-21. 

The Falcons took an early 3-1 lead in the opening set, fueled by two kills from senior Spencer Herman (Kimberly, Wis.)

The Falcons took an early 3-1 lead, which included two kills from senior Spencer Herman (Kimberly, Wis.). Despite Loras regaining the lead with a 10-7 advantage, a timeout from CUW led to a 5-0 run that saw senior Andy Ellingham (Burlington, Wis.) score two service aces and sophomore Tate Miller (Anthem, Ariz.) have a kill.

The back-and-forth affair persisted as the score remained knotted at 16-16 after Andy Ellingham scored on a set from junior Logan Kebisek (Brookfield, Wis.). 

But Loras would pull away in the closing points of the first set to take it 25-19.

In the second set, the Duhawks would ride their momentum from the first set, securing the 9-3 lead. 

Despite CUW narrowing the gap to four at 10-6 after an Andy Ellingham service ace and a kill by junior Kellen Gonzales (Milwaukee, Wis.), Loras would maintain control of the set, holding a seven-point lead at 19-12. 

Determined not to go away, the Falcons clawed their way back, reducing the Duhawk lead to just three at 20-17 as Spencer Herman and junior Lucas Beres (Germantown, Wis.) registered kills while the Loras committed two errors.  

But Loras would regroup and reach the 25-point mark first, 25-19, as they held off the Falcons' comeback effort to take the 2-0 lead.  

The third frame mirrored the previous two, as neither team was able to establish a sizeable lead in the opening points; the set had four ties while the score remained 7-7, as CUW sophomore Will Wood (Savage, Minn.) had a kill on a set-up from Lucas Beres. 

Later in the set, Loras would jump ahead and take the 15-12 lead. 

Once again, Concordia willed its way back, leveling the score at 16 apiece, as they went on a 4-1 run, capped off by a swing from Lucas Beres. 

Loras would take the next point before committing an error, setting the score at 17-17. 

But Loras would respond with a 5-1 run to secure the 22-18 lead. But CUW would bounce back with two points off Loras errors to make it a two-point margin. 

Once again, Loras would sneak away with the win, 25-21, taking the match in three sets. 

In the effort, Spencer Herman totaled a team-high 12 kills and 14.5 points, while Logan Kebisek tallied 22 assists. 

Andy Ellingham also had a game-high three service aces along with nine points. 

Defensively, Spencer Herman and Lucas Beres had 1.5 blocks each, while Logan Kebisek led the flock with seven digs. Sophomore Parker Pearson (Keller, Texas) and Kellen Gonzales also combined for 11 digs. 

The Falcons will return to the court tomorrow, Jan. 20th, to take on the Vikings of Augustana College, with the first serve slated for 1:00 p.m.