Clayton, Mo. – The Maryville men's volleyball team made the short trek to Clayton looking for its third straight victory but host Fontbonne edged the Saints 3-2. The Griffins won 17-25, 25-23, 26-24, 22-25, 15-8. Drew Rogers drilled down a season-high 17 kills, tied for the third most in school history, and he narrowly missed a double-double with nine digs. Cameron Chambers handed out a season-best 43 assists. Victor Ganev added 10 kills, while Caden Klingbeil also just missed on a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs.
 
In the decisive fifth set, the score was tied at 3-3. The Griffins tallied three straight before David Fleischer put down a kill. A Fontbonne service error drew the Saints to 9-5. However, the hosts scored back-to-back points. Victor Ganev got Maryville back on track with a kill, and Jacob Fischer followed with another. Fontbonne scored the next three points and closed out the win 15-8.
 
In the first set, the Saints stormed off on a 6-0 burst to take early control. After a Griffins error, Klingbeil and Fleischer had a block. Fischer served back-to-back aces, and Fontbonne committed a hitting error. Another rejection built Maryville a 7-1 advantage. The Griffins inched back to within 11-10 before the Saints responded with four straight points. Rogers put down two kills around two errors by the hosts for a 15-10 advantage. Maryville still led 20-16 before scoring five of the last six points.
 
Fontbonne sprinted out of the gates in the second set and built a 7-1 lead. The deficit was still 18-12 until the Saints rallied to tie the score at 21-all. Maryville went on a 6-1 spree and tied the proceedings on a block by Fischer and Victor Ganev. However, Fontbonne scored three of the final four points of the set to tie the match.
 
Set three again saw the Griffins build a lead and hold off a Maryville rush. Fontbonne was up 15-11 before the Saints went on a 6-2 run. Maryville finally tied the score at 17-all on a Fontbonne hitting error. The Saints edged ahead on a 3-0 run capped by a Rogers kill at 22-21. The set was tied at 24-24 but the Griffins scored the final two points to take a 2-1 lead in sets.
 
Trailing for most of the fourth set, the Saints turned a 16-14 deficit into an 18-16 lead. Rogers had a kill to start the run. A hitting error by the Griffins pushed the Saints up 18-16. A Fischer kill pulled the Saints to set point, and a Fontbonne attack error gave Maryville the set and forced a decisive fifth set.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Drew Rogers - 17
Hitting Percentage: Victor Ganev - 333
Assists: Cameron Chambers - 43
Digs: Avery Pohlman - 11
Blocks: Jacob Fischer - 6
Service Aces: Jacob Fischer - 3
 
Records
Maryville: 4-8
Fontbonne: 7-5
 
What's Next?
The Saints do not return to play until they host Missouri Baptist for the "Conway Clash" Tuesday, Feb. 21. First serve in Moloney Arena is 7 p.m.