The Aurora University men's volleyball team finally found their way home for a contest in Thornton Gymnasium on Friday night with a top-15 match-up against Loras College. The Spartans battled through five competitive sets but ultimately fell 3–2.


MATCH SCORE:No. 12 Loras College 3, No. 15 Aurora University 2 (16-25, 25-19, 25-17, 22-25, 11-15)
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 6-3 overall and 2-0 NACC


- After a back and forth start to the opening set, Loras pulled away and won the first set of 2026 in Thornton Gymnasium 25-16.
- AU trailed 1-0 in the second set and quickly grabbed the lead and never let it go.
- A 25-19 second set win knotted the match at 1-1.
- Josh McLellan had seven kills to lead the way in set two.
- The third set was almost identical to the second with AU trailing 1-0 and then running away to win 25-17.
- Ammar Brzovic led the way with four kills.
- The fourth set was the best one yet of the night with the Spartans and Duhawks trading shots throughout.
- Loras found a way late and won 25-22 to send the match to a fifth.
- Connor Carroll led AU in the fourth with five kills.
- The fifth set was a battle that saw the score tied 8-8 and AU trailed 12-11 before Loras secured the final three points.
- AU fell in the match-up 3-2.


Kills: Josh McLellan (17), SJ Nelson and Ammar Brzovic (13)
Assists: Luke Dwyer (33)
Blocks: Ammar Brzovic (4) and SJ Nelson (3)
Digs: SJ Nelson (14), Luke Dwyer and Luke Brannigan (11)


Next action for the Spartan men's volleyball team comes on Tuesday, February 17 when they travel to North Central College. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. in Naperville, Illinois.