NC Kansas News

Men's Volleyball Drops Triangular Matches At Graceland

Kansas Wesleyan Men's Volleyball dropped both matches in the Graceland Triangular on Saturday at Graceland University. The Coyotes dropped a hard fought five-set match to Health Sciences and Pharmacy, then a straight set decision to Graceland.

 

UHSP 3, KWU 2 (21-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12): The Coyotes went the distance against UHSP in the first match of the day.

 

The first set, the Coyotes led nearly the entire way, when UHSP had a 14-13 lead, that a quick 3-point spurt by the Coyotes quickly erased. The Coyotes were able to use Andy Tran (FR/San Jose, Calif.)'s ace to close the set.

 

UHSP jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set, and the Coyotes couldn't get closer than 11-10 in the set when the Eutectics opened up a 14-10 lead.

 

KWU fell behind again in the third set and this time the Coyotes were able to rally. KWU trailed 18-10 when the Coyotes scored nine straight points to take a 19-18 lead. It was tied 23-23 when the Coyotes scored the final two points to win the set.

 

The fourth set was tied 21-21 when UHSP scored the final four points to win the set and force the decisive fifth.

 

The fifth was tied 6-6, but UHSP too a 14-11 lead and was able to get the win.

 

Viet Nguyen (SO/Wichita, Kan.) set a new program record with 21 kills in the match, while Justin Burras (FR/Burbank, Calif.) added 10. Marcus Taylor had 39 assists. Jeremy Lapeze (FR/Burbank, Calif.) had 18 digs and Burras added 16. Nguyen added three blocks.

 

Graceland 3, KWU 0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-20): The Coyotes turned right around and faced Graceland following their marathon five-setter with UHSP and dropped a straight set decision to the Jackets.

 

KWU had a brief early lead, but Graceland pushed out to a 19-9 lead in the set and came away with the opening set win.

 

The Coyotes led 11-10 in the second set, but a 7-1 run by Graceland gave the Jackets the lead they needed to take the set.

 

It was 14-13 in the third when Graceland pulled out to a 19-14 lead in the set and came away with the match win.

 

Nguyen and Burras had five kills each in the match. Lapeze had 15 digs.

 

KWU returns to action on Friday night, hosting Dordt at 7 p.m. in Mabee Arena. The Coyotes then host No. 10 ranked Jamestown at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.

Original source can be found here.