CINCINNATI, Ohio. – Over the weekend your Mount St. Joseph University men's volleyball team welcomed the Knights of Calvin University and the Thunder of Trine University to the Harrington Center to close out the 2023-24 regular season. To open up the weekend, the Lions first faced off against the Knights of Calvin. The Lions got ahead early and survived to take down Calvin in four sets. On Saturday, the Lions faced off against the Thunder of Trine. Trine looked dominant to start but the Lions adjusted to extend the match. The Lions held a late lead in the fourth set but, couldn't push the match to a fifth set falling 3-1.
MOUNT – 3 CALVIN – 1
Prior to the start of the game, the Lions honored their lone Senior
Logan Essen. Essen during his career totaled over 500 digs and averaged over two digs per set. The Lions fed off the energy of their Senior jumping out to an early 11-7 lead. The Knights threatened but kills from
Roger Wilcox and
Luke Dwire extended the Lions lead to 17-11. Calvin answered back pulling within two late but a service error cost the Knights the first set, with the Lions coming out on top 25-22.
In the second set, it was the Knights jumping out to an early advantage. Calvin started on a 7-3 run but a powerful sequence from the Lions put them back ahead. A 12-4 run from the Lions gave The Mount a 15-11 lead.
Ryan Bollhauer and
Ben Carmosino led the way both tallying a pair of kills on the run. But, Calvin quickly answered pulling the score to 20-19. The Lions weren't able to pull away but held off the Knights for a 25-23 set two victory.
To start the third set, the Lions looked dominant. Kills from Bollhauer and Wilcox powered a 7-2 start for the Lions. Calvin would answer right back, pulling within one to trail 8-9. The Knights continued to push the needle tying the score at 16. Each squad continued to trade points until the Knights pulled away late, taking set three 25-22.
In the fourth set, the Knights continued to ride their momentum. After trading leads to start, Calvin took control holding a 16-12 lead. But, a 5-2 run from the Lions tied the score at 17. After a pair of lead changes, the Knights would pull away holding a 24-21 advantage. But, on the edge of a set four defeat, the Lions scored four straight points to take a 25-24 lead. Calvin answered taking a 26-25 lead but that wasn't it for the Lions. Three straight points from The Mount closed out the set with the Lions coming out on top 28-26.
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MOUNT – 1 TRINE – 3
To open up play, the Thunder took control. Trine leaped out to a 15-5 lead and never looked back. The Lions showed life to end the set but fell 25-13 in set one.
In set two, the Lions seemed to have warmed up. Each squad held a lead to start but five unanswered points gave the Thunder a 19-15 lead. The Lions answered with three straight points pulling the score to 19-18. But, the Thunder were able to protect their advantage taking set two 25-23.
To begin set three, the Lions held their ground. After a pair of attacking errors from Trine, the Lions held a 10-9 advantage. But, Trine wasted no time jumping back in front holding a 17-15 advantage. Following the lead change, the Lions looked poised to re-gain the edge. A 5-1 run gave the Lions a 20-18 lead. Trine tied the score back at 22 but kills from Bollhauer and
Tanner Smart closed out the third set with the Lions in front 25-23.
To start the fourth set, the Lions continued to ride the wave of momentum leaping out to a 8-5 lead. The Lions continued to protect their lead late into the set holding a 19-14 advantage. But, Trine went on an offensive tear finishing the game on an 11-2 run to take set four 25-21.
Bollhauer led the way offensively for the Lions over the weekend. The Junior finished with 25 kills and 5 blocks (3 solo) while hitting .294.
Jude Lewis followed adding 20 kills while hitting .172. Freshman
Tanner Smart and
Roger Wilcox also impressed in the final series of the season. Smart finished with 16 kills and 7 blocks (1 solo) while hitting .228. Wilcox added 12 kills and 2 blocks while hitting .204. Senior
Logan Essen closed out his career with 25 digs across 8 sets, averaging 3.1 digs/set.
