FORT WAYNE, IND. – The Maryville men's volleyball team pushed the match at Purdue Fort Wayne to five sets but eventually succumbed to the Mastodons. Set scores were 20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 10-15. Makai Scott led the way with 13 kills, while Aiden Whitemountain had 11 kills. AJ Robateau notched 10 kills, while Jake Usher handed out 45 assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mastodons hit .476 to take the opening set but the Saints bounced back in the second. The Saints built the largest lead in the set at 10-7 but the contest was tied up at 12-12. Maryville went back up by 14-12 but the set was tied four more times. Deadlocked at 21-21, the Mastodons had an error before Usher tipped in a kill. The hosts scored one but Ezra Maupin gave the Saints set point, and Whitemountain drilled home the kill to even the match.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne took the lead again by winning the third set before the Saints again answered. Makai Nzioki opened the fourth with a kill, followed by an Usher ace and a Whitemountain kill for a 3-0 lead. The Saints would hold the advantage the rest of the set. Maryville scored five of the next six points to take control. Nzioki and Robateau had a block to spark the run, and another rejection by Nzioki and Maupin boosted the Saints up 8-2. Whitemountain had a kill before Whitemountain and Robateau's block handed Maryville its largest lead at 12-5. The gap was still 19-12 before Mastodons made a late push. The Saints were up by two and closed out the set on a Purdue Fort Wayne miscue to force a fifth set.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne scored the first two points until Whitemountain got the Saints on the board. The Mastodons scored six of the next seven points to take control. Maupin had a kill and Nzioki served up an ace to make it 9-4. Points on a kill by Whitemountain and a block combo by Robateau and Usher made it 11-7. Robateau's kill extended the set at 14-10 but the Mastodons held on for the win.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills: Makai Scott - 13
Hitting Percentage: Ezra Maupin - .400
Assists: Jake Usher - 45
Service Aces: Jake Usher - 3
Digs: Zac Clark - 10
Blocks: AJ Robateau - 6
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 0-5
Purdue Fort Wayne: 4-2
 
What's Next?
The Saints host their home opener Friday, Jan. 30, in a 7 pm first serve against Barton College.