The Aurora University Spartan men's volleyball team hosted Dominican University in the semi-final round of the 2023 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament on Thursday night. AU fell to Dominican in four tightly played sets.


MATCH SCORE:  Dominican University 3, Aurora University 1 (30-28, 24-26, 23-25, 22-25)
LOCATION: Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 15-11 overall and 11-1 NACC, Dominican University 13-11 overall and 7-5 NACC 


- AU trailed quickly in the opening set and called timeout down 12-7.
- The Spartans would score 11 of the next 15 points and led 18-16.
- The two teams went back and forth and a kill from James Karwin gave AU the 30-28 opening set win.
- The second set was tight throughout with three being the largest lead held by either team.
- AU would drop the second set 26-24 and the match was knotted 1-1.
- An ace from Karwin and two kills by Lucas Meier gave the Spartans a 17-12 lead in the third.
- Dominican out-scored AU 13-6 coming out of the timeout and won 25-23.
- Meier and John McCormack each had four kills in the third set.
- AU trailed early in the fourth set and coming out of a timeout down 16-9 showed life.
- Down 19-17, AU appeared to pull within one when a Star attack sailed out of bounds.
- But a late overturn by the up-ref called a touch which resulted in a 20-17 deficit instead.
- A card was then issued and AU trailed 21-17.
- The Spartans managed to get within two points twice down the stretch but the momentum swing by the official was to much to overcome.
- AU fell in the fourth 25-22 and dropped the match 3-1.


Kills: John McCormack (12)
Assists: James Karwin (34)
Blocks: Martin McKee (7) 
Digs:  James Karwin (11) and Alex Nonhof (10)
Aces: James Karwin and Derek Schober (2)

The Spartan men's volleyball team concludes the 2023 season.