ROLLA, MO. - Â The Maryville men's volleyball team took to the road for a clash at the top of the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings but host Missouri S&T moved past the Saints in straight sets. The Miners won the match 25-16, 25-10, 25-18 Wednesday in Rolla, Mo. The Saints struggled to generate consistent offense and hit less than .100 to drop their first road match since Jan. 23 at Purdue Fort Wayne.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints cut the lead to 6-4 after a
Jayden Rookhuyzen kill but the Miners tallied seven of the next eight points. Maryville answered with three of four points, capped by a
Makai Scott kill to make it 14-8. The Saints stayed close and kills by
AJ Robateau and
Jake Usher chopped the gap down to 17-13. A Miner error made it 19-15 but the hosts held on for the win.
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After a Missouri S&T error, Rookhuyzen put down a kill to bring the Saints to within 11-8. Scott tacked on a kill to trim the Miner lead down to 13-9 but Missouri S&T slowly pulled away in the second set. Maryville had its lowest point production of the match in set two.
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The teams traded the first two points of the third set but the Miners reeled off eight consecutive points.
Peter Soczewka had a kill, and later,
Makai Nzioki finished a play to make it 10-3. The teams traded points for a stretch. After kills by Scott and Soczewka, Robateau and Usher combined on a block. Maryville made a late push and used a 4-1 run but the Miners eventually closed out the win.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kills:
Makai Scott - 8
Hitting Percentage:
Peter Soczewka - .600
Assists:Â
Jake Usher - 20
Service Aces:Â none
Digs:Â
Zac Clark - 12
Blocks:Â three players - 1
RECORDS
Maryville: 16-7, 11-2 GLVC
Missouri S&T: 17-5, 11-2 GLVC
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What's Next?
The Saints and Missouri S&T close out the regular season with a rematch, this time in Moloney Arena Saturday, April 18, for a 2 p.m. first serve.
