No. 15 Griffins Fall In Elite Eight Against UC Santa Cruz

KENOSHA, Wis.—The No. 15-ranked Fontbonne University men's volleyball team saw its 2019 season come to a close in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament as the Griffins fell in four sets against UC Santa Cruz.

Score: UC Santa Cruz 3, Fontbonne 1 (25-17, 25-21, 17-25, 25-17)

Location: Kenosha, Wis.

Records: UC Santa Cruz (20-16), Fontbonne (26-3)

How It Happened

In the first set, the Griffins trailed 11-8, though a 5-0 run by the Banana Slugs gave them some breathing room with a 16-8 lead on Kyle Donohoe's kill. Fontbonne tried to get back in it at 22-17 on Grant Garza's kill, but UC Santa Cruz collected the final three points for the win.

It was back-and-forth play throughout the second set as they met-up at 17-17 on a kill from Emir Hadzisalihovic. The Banana Slugs went on a 3-0 run to take a 20-17 advantage. From there, the Griffins hung around on kills from Brendon Schwartze and Grant Garza to make it 23-21.

However, the Banana Slugs got a block assist from Raymond Cascio and Justin Fortner, along with a solo block by Jacob Shapiro for the 25-21 win.

In the third, the Griffins surged out to a 16-7 lead on Braden Woolsey's and Josh Farley's block assist. The team dominated the set the rest of the way as kill from Farley secured the 25-17 win and forced a fourth set.

In the fourth, it was the Banana Slugs this time around taking a 12-7 lead. Fontbonne trimmed the deficit down to 18-16 later in the set on Schwartze's kill. Though, UC Santa Cruz closed out the set on a 7-1 run for the 25-17 set and match win.

Inside The Numbers

• The Griffins totaled 44 kills and a .049 hitting percentage. It was the first time this year the team was held to a hitting percentage under .100.
• Defensively, they came away with 62 digs, 12 block assists, and eight blocks total.
• The Banana Slugs concluded with 46 kills, a .220 hitting percentage, 55 digs, and 22 block assists.

Fontbonne Leaders

• Schwartze was one kill off tying his career-high he set during his freshman year after he ended with 16 kills, a .262 hitting percentage, and 10 digs.
• Hadzisalihovic totaled seven kills, while Mark Klusman and Josh Farley had six kills each.
• Kyler van Rossum-O'Connell dished out 39 digs and finished with 11 digs for his 11^th double-double on the year.
• Zach Rothstein led the group defensively with 14 digs.

UC Santa Cruz Leaders

• Raymond Cascio was the story for the Banana Slugs with his match-high 21 kills and a .259 hitting percentage.
• Setter Sam Wittert handed out 41 assists.
• Defensively, Max Garris had a match-high 19 digs.

Fans make sure to stay updated on fontbonnegriffins.com throughout the year for full updates on the men's volleyball team.

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