For the second straight match, the Aurora University men's volleyball team rallied from down 2-0 to force a winner take all fifth set, this time against #3 Benedictine University. AU went into extra time in the fifth set but fell 21-19 and 3-2 in the match.
THE BASICS
MATCH SCORE: #3 Benedictine University 3, RV Aurora University 2Â
(22-25, 14-25, 25-22, 28-26, 19-21)
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois - Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium
RECORDS:Â Aurora University 5-7 overall and 4-2 in the NACC; #3 Benedictine University 13-1 overall and 6-0 in the NACC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans and Eagles went back and forth in the first set with a tie score of 19-19.
- The visitors would pull away though and defeat AU 25-22.
- The second set did not go well for the Spartans as they hit -.107 and fell 25-14.
- Facing the chance of a defeat,. the youthful Spartans responded in the third set.
- With the set tied 17-17, AU got a kill from
Cade Harrison that sparked them to take the lead and the set 25-22.
- AU fell behind early in the fourth set but rallied back midway through the set.
- Thanks to timely attacks and errors by the Eagles, the Spartans held on to win 28-26 and force a second straight fifth set match at home against the No. 3 ranked team.
- After falling behind early, 6-3, the Spartans again responded with the heart of a champion.
- AU held match point twice at 14-13 and 15-14 and fought off match point at 16-15, 17-16, 18-17 and 19-18.
- The Spartans though would fall by a final of 21-19 and lose the match 3-2.
SPARTAN TEAM LEADERS
Kills: Justin Elliott (17) and
Tim Breiter (15)
Assists: Justin Yost (44)
Blocks: Daniel Pytel (8)
Digs: Justin Elliott (11)
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's volleyball team comes on Saturday, March 2 when they host Concordia University Wisconsin. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium.