The Aurora University men's volleyball team took on Concordia University Chicago and California Lutheran University in a tri-match at CUC on Saturday. The Spartans swept the day, defeating CUC 3-0 and Cal Lutheran 3-1.


MATCH ONE SCORE: Aurora University 3, Concordia University Chicago 0 (25-19, 27-25, 25-20)
MATCH TWO SCORE: Aurora University 3, California Lutheran University 1 (25-23, 25-23,21-25, 25-17)
LOCATION: River Forest, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 14-9 overall and 7-3 in the NACC


Match One vs CUC
- The early part of the first set was back and forth with the score tied multiple times.
- An Austin Bayner kill started a 4-0 AU run that pushed the Spartans ahead 18-14.
- James Karwin sealed the set win with a kill and service ace to seal the 25-19 win.
- AU ran off to an early lead in the second set but saw CUC rally to tie the contest.
- The Spartans trailed 23-21 but scored six of the final eight points for the win.
- In the final moments of the victorious set, Solomon Dial had two kills with John McCormack adding one.
- As had been the theme in the first two sets, the score in the third went back and forth with the Cougars.
- Down 20-19, Karwin had back to back kills to take a 21-20 lead and then four straight CUC attack errors led to the 25-20 AU win.


Match One vs CUC
Kills: Solomon Dial (12) and Gunner Rodarte (9)
Assists: James Karwin (33)
Blocks: John McCormack and Solomon Dial (4)
Digs: Alex Nonhof (13)


Match Two vs Cal Lutheran
- Facing each other for the second time in two weeks, the Spartans looked to avenge a 3-1 loss in California.
- The Spartans took advantage of numerous Cal Lutheran errors with two huge John McCormack kills late sealing the 25-23 set one win.
- The second set was a mirror of the first including the final score, a 25-23 AU win.
- Freshman Solomon Dial and Gunner Rodarte had key kills late for the Spartan winner.
- AU fell behind early in the third set and despite a furious rally attempt, AU fell 25-21.
- A combination of some big offense and Cal Lutheran errors had the Spartans jump out to a big lead in set four.
- Kills from Matthew Nelson, Dial and James Karwin pushed AU ahead 11-5.
- A short time later four CLU errors and an ace from Karwin put the Spartans up 17-7.
- Gunner Rodarte sealed the Spartan victory with a kill and a 25-17 set win.
- AU was victorious 3-1.


Match Two vs Cal Lutheran
Kills: Solomon Dial and Gunner Rodarte (10)
Assists: James Karwin (37)
Blocks: Solomon Dial (5)
Digs: Alex Nonhof (17)


Next action for the Spartan men's volleyball team comes on Wednesday, March 30 when they travel to Illinois Institute of Technology. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. in Chicago, Illinois.
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