KANSAS CITY, MO.  – Maryville men's volleyball posted its third straight victory with a sweep at Rockhurst. The Saints won 25-22, 25-23, 25-20 as Luke Kraft paced the attack with 16 kills and a .481 hitting percentage. Makai Scott recorded 12 kills, nine digs and hit .300 in the match.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tied at 14-14, the Saints took control by scoring six of the next eight points. After an RU service error, David Fleischer and Ethan Beyreis-Heim teamed on a block. After a Kraft kill, Beyreis-Heim notched a solo block. Cameron Lee and Makai Scott put up back-to-back kills for a 20-16 lead. Rockhurst made a push but consecutive errors by RU gave the Saints control, and Kraft's kill ended the set.
 
Both teams made runs in set two as the lead went back and forth. Rockhurst edged ahead 20-19 but Kraft cranked down a kill, and Makai Scott served an ace to give Maryville the lead. Tied at 21-all, Fleischer had a kill, and Kevin Doran followed for a 23-21 margin. The Saints traded points with kills by Doran and Lee ended the set at 25-23. The Hawks had their highest hitting percentage of the match but the Saints hit .371 to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Maryville used an early 5-0 burst to take control in the third set. Beyreis-Heim started the run, and after an RU error, he served an ace. Following a Scott kill, Beyreis-Heim had another service ace for a 13-8 lead. Consecutive kills by Kraft pushed the Maryville margin to six points. The Saints tallied three points-in-a-row. Kraft had a kill, the Hawks committed an error, and a Victor Ganev ace made it 21-13. The Hawks made a late push but three kills closed the match, capped by Doran's kill.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills: Luke Kraft - 16
Hitting Percentage: Kevin Doran - .500
Assists: Ethan Beyreis-Heim - 39
Service Aces: Ethan Beyreis-Heim - 4
Digs: Zac Clark - 10
Blocks: Ethan Beyreis-Heim, Kevin Doran, Luke Kraft - 2 

RECORDS
Maryville: 4-5
Rockhurst: 7-8
 
What's Next?
The teams play again Saturday, Feb. 15, with a 2 p.m. first serve at Rockhurst. Read Full Article