St. Louis – For the first time in program history, the Maryville University men's volleyball team rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win a match. After dropping the opening two sets to Fontbonne 25-27, 22-25, the Saints came back to win the last three sets 25-13, 25-22, 15-7. Victor Ganev finished with a match-high 17 kills while hitting .351, while Joe Nicometo added 15 kills. Cameron Chambers tied the record for assists in a match with 50, while David Fleischer hit .667.
 
Fontbonne recap                        
In the fifth set, the Saints scored the first three points. Jacob Fischer had a kill, and Cameron Chambers served up back-to-back aces. After a Fontbonne service error, Jacob Fisher and Joe Nicometo had a block for a 5-1 edge. The Saints kept up the pressure and stretched their advantage to 10-4. David Fleischer had a kill, and a Fontbonne error was good for a 12-4 edge. The Saints cruised to the final set win by a 15-7 margin.
 
Down 19-18 in the opener, the Saints got a kill from Fleischer and a Fontbonne error to go up 20-19. The teams traded points but the Griffins edged ahead 24-22. Drew Rogers put down a kill and a Fontbonne error tied the set at 24-24. Deadlocked again at 25-all, Fontbonne squeezed out two straight points to take it 27-25.
 
The Saints led set two 9-8 after a Rogers kill but the Griffins went on a 5-1 run to pull ahead. The visitors stayed ahead, and Ganev's kill drew the Saints to 16-13. However, Fontbonne used another 5-1 burst to take control. The Saints made a late charge and closed to 24-22 but Fontbonne eventually held on to go up 2-0.
 
Maryville scored four straight times to grab a 4-1 lead early in the third. Two straight errors by the Griffins gave the Saints a bigger edge and a kill by Cameron Chambers and a hitting error built an 11-5 advantage. Jacob Fischer had two kills in a 4-1 spree as the Saints more than doubled up Fontbonne at 15-6. Maryville's margin grew to double digits following a Fischer kill and a Fontbonne error for 20-10. The Saints scored the final four points to win it 25-13 and force a fourth set.
 
Fontbonne led 10-9 midway through the fourth before the Saints embarked on a 5-0 run. The Griffins had an error and Fleischer and Joe Nicometo teamed on a block. Luke Van Handel drilled down a kill, and Fischer served an ace and a kill for a 15-10 margin.
 
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Victor Ganev - 17
Hitting Percentage: David Fleischer - .667
Assists: Cameron Chambers - 50
Service Aces: Cameron Chambers and Jacob Fischer - 2
Digs: Cameron Chambers - 14
Blocks: Jacob Fischer - 5
 
Records
Maryville: 9-11
Fontbonne: 9-7
 
What's Next?
The Saints closeout their five-game home swing as they welcome Quincy to Moloney Arena Friday, March 10, in a 7 p.m. first serve.