The Aurora University men's volleyball team honored the late Rob Wolter, the inaugural coach of the AU men's program on Saturday with a tri-match against Fontbonne University and Augustana College.

THE BASICS
MATCH ONE SCORE: Aurora University 3, Fontbonne University 2 (22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 16-14)
MATCH TWO SCORE: Aurora University 3, Augustana College 1 (25-16, 25-21, 16-25, 25-22)
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois - Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium
RECORDS: Aurora University 4-0

MATCH ONE vs. Fontbonne University
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans and Fontbonne played a somewhat sloppy opening set with the teams combining for 23 attack or service errors. AU fell in the first set 25-22.
- AU rebounded in the second set and finished the set on an 12-6 run to win 25-19. Thomas Kovanic had five kills with Justin Elliott collecting three.
- The Spartans led down the stretch of the third set but could not completely put away the pesky Griffins. AU won 25-22.
- AU trailed the entire way in the fourth set but were able to stay within striking distance but could never get over the rally hump and fell 25-23 to send the contest to an exciting fifth set.
- The winner take all fifth was an exciting one as the teams traded leads early. 
- Midway through the set, AU got a pair of kills from David Miechowicki and a serving ace from Timothy Breiter to give the Spartans a 10-6 lead.
- The match would then be tied 11-11, 13-13 and 14-14.
- A Fontbonne service error and a kill from Jack Fischer sealed the AU victory 16-14 and the match 3-2.

MATCH ONE SPARTAN TEAM LEADERS
Kills: Thomas Kovanic (13) and Emmanuel Chaidez (10)
Assists: James Karwin (48)
Blocks: Emmanuel Chaidez (7)
Digs: Brandon Langys (11)
Aces: Austin Bayner and Timothy Breiter (1)

MATCH TWO vs. Augustana College
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans and Vikings were tied 9-9 in the opening set when AU began to pull away.
- A kill from Timothy Breiter got the AU rally going with a big triple block from Breiter, Austin Bayner and Jack Fischer getting the Spartan crowd on their feet.
- AU controlled the contest the remainder of the way, winning 25-16.
- The second set was close throughout with Augustana errors aiding in the late AU 6-2 run to close out the 25-21 win.
- The third set saw AU come out flat and they would drop the set 25-16.
- Much like the second set, the fourth set was tight until late.
- With the set tied 20-20, a Viking error and kills from Breiter and Jack Fischer gave AU a three point lead.
- The lead would hold up as AU was victorious 25-22 and won the jmatch 3-1.

MATCH TWO SPARTAN TEAM LEADERS
Kills: Thomas Kovanic and Jack Fischer (11)
Assists: James Karwin (34)
Blocks: Emmanuel Chaidez (6)
Digs: Jack Fischer (16), Brandon Langys (13) and James Karwin (10)
Aces: Emmanuel Chaidez (2)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's volleyball team comes on Friday, January 31 when they host Benedictine University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. on Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium.