No. 14-ranked MSOE prevailed in battle against top digging teams

St. Louis, Mo. - Before Friday night's men's volleyball matchup between No. 14-ranked MSOE and Fontbonne University, the two teams were neck and neck in the NCAA Division III national dig rankings. Fontbonne held the slight edge, averaging 12.17 digs per set, the second highest total, while MSOE sat at third averaging 12.10 digs per set.

MSOE prevailed in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League rivalry, winning 25-18, 25-23 and 25-15. The Raiders have lost just two of their 15 games and are now 9-1 in the MCVL. Fontbonne falls below .500 overall (9-10) and are now 4-9 in conference. The Griffins host No. 6-ranked Carthage College Saturday at 2 p.m.

MSOE limited Fontbonne to a game-high .176 hitting percentage which occurred in the second set. In that set, the Griffins led the majority of the time until the middle to end of the set. Fontbonne led 17-15 until the Raiders scored three straight points. The set would be tied six more times before MSOE closed out the win on two Griffin errors.

Fontbonne nailed a season-high six solo blocks in the match, two each from TJ Vorva and Kyler van Rossum-O'Connell. Stephen Lendy tallied six kills while middle hitter Aaron Kowalewski hit .375 to lead the Griffins in accuracy.

Scott Boyk led MSOE at the net, securing 10 kills on 12 attempts. The Raiders recorded 41 digs in the win and hit over .400 in the third set.