Frankfort, Ky. – Three different Maryville University men's volleyball players finished with nine kills apiece as the Saints extended their program record winning streak to eight with a sweep at Kentucky State. The Saints eased to a 25-19, 25-23, 25-16 triumph. AJ Robateau, Jayden Rookhuyzen and Luke Van Handel all compiled nine kills to pace the offense.
 
Kentucky State recap
The Saints were up 12-10 in set one before scoring three straight points. KSU pulled two points back but Maryville used a 4-1 burst. Victor Ganev started the run with a kill, and Van Handel followed. Ganev and Robateau tacked on kills for a 19-13 lead. Robateau had a kill, and following a block by Jacob Fischer and Ethan Beyres-Heim, a Fischer kill boosted the Saints to a 22-15 margin.
 
In the second set, the score was tied at 6-6 before the Sinat broke away with a 5-1 spree. Ganev had a kill, and after a KSU error, he and Caden Klingbeil teamed up for a block. Later, Klingbeil and Van Handel put down kills for a 11-7 edge. The lead ballooned to 15-9 after Beyreis-Heim had a setter dump, and a Van Handel kill came before a KSU error. The hosts got as close as one but an error and a kill by Van Handel pushed Maryville up 17-14. Tied at 22-22, KSU had an error and a block by Robateau and Van Handel gave the Saints set point. Robateau finished the set with a kill at 25-23.
 
The Saints held a narrow lead in set three but pulled away with five straight points at 11-9. Robateau started the run with a kill, and had a block with Jayden Rookhuyzen, who capped the burst with three consecutive kills. KSU tried to keep it close but Klingbeil had a kill and a KSU error gave the Saints a margin of seven. Three straight kills closed out the match.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: AJ Robateau, Jayden Rookhuyzen and Luke Van Handel - 9
Hitting Percentage: AJ Robateau - .727
Assists: Ethan Beyreis-Heim - 31
Service Aces: Ethan Beyreis-Heim and Luke Van Handel - 1
Digs: Avery Pohlman - 9
Blocks: Ethan Beyreis-Heim - 3
 
Records
Maryville: 12-3
Kentucky State: 2-9
 
What's Next?
The Saints make the local trip to Clayton, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 27, with a 7 p.m. start at Fontbonne University.