Indiana Tech's men's volleyball season ends in NAIA pool play
DES MOINES, Iowa - (NAIA Releases - Day 1 | Day 2) - Indiana Tech's men's volleyball team ended their season in the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex during pool play of the 2023 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship. The Warriors went 0-2 in Pool C, losing to a pair of California teams.
The Master's and Menlo both earned victories over the Warriors and The Master's advanced out of pool play. Indiana Tech ended the season at 19-10.
The Master's def. Indiana Tech, 3-2 (25-18, 26-24, 23-25, 18-25, 15-12)
Tech dropped the first set as the Mustangs went up 10-2 early. With the score at set point (24-25), Tech score the next three points for a spark until a service ace gave the set to TMU.
The Warriors played the Mustangs closer in the second set until TMU went on an 8-2 run to force at Tech timeout. The Warriors bounced back, staying within a couple of points and took the lead at 24-23. Back-to-back kills gave the Mustangs the advantage again and a service error ended the second set.
TMU once again gained the advantage in the third set with a 16-12 lead until the Warriors went on a 5-0 run for the lead. Back-and-forth play continued with both teams leading at various times until a 22-22 tie. Dante Siracusa and Daynte Stewart both registered kills and after a Mustang point, Stewart ended the set after being set up by Joey Hermes.
Indiana Tech opened up a 7-2 lead in the fourth set and led by as many as eight. The Warrior defensive disrupted The Master's offensive and the Warriors rode the momentum to force the deciding set.
The final set proved to be a battle with Tech hanging around just a point or two back, but in the end Nolan Flexen took control for the Mustangs. Flexen ended the match with a kill.
The Master's hit .440 for the match led by Nolan Flexen's tournament-record 35 kills in 54 attempts. Matthew Hamm also set a tournament record with 66 assists in the high-scoring match.
Stat Leaders
Kills: Nolan Flexen 35 (TMU); Daynte Stewart 19 (IT)
Assists: Matthew Hamm 66 (TMU); Brandon Jones 48 (IT)
Digs: Diego Perez 17 (TMU); Joey Hermes 7 (IT)
Blocks: Jon Fonda 5 (IT); Matthew Hamm 4 (TMU)
Menlo def. Indiana Tech, 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-19)
The Warriors faced another California school in their second pool play match, losing in straight sets. Menlo started off on fire, jumping to a 10-5. Indiana Tech stayed within striking distance, but the Oaks pulled away in the back half of the set to go up 1-0.
Tech took a 10-7 lead in the second set only to have the Oaks win the next seven points. Menlo used the momentum to close out the set for a 2-0 lead.
The third set was close with neither team gaining more than a two-point lead until Menlo put together a 15-5 run for a 24-15 lead. Tech mounted a comeback scoring the next four points but Menlo closed out the sweep with a kill.
Tech was held to .114 attack percentage for the match while Menlo hit .384.
Stat Leaders
Kills: Konrad Stoklosinski 17 (MC); Mason Milan 9 (IT)
Assists: Lucas Larson 33 (MC); Brandon Jones 21 (IT)
Digs: Joey Hermes 8 (IT); Julius Stiemer 7 (MC)
Blocks: Chase Direito 6 (MU); Raekwon Rogers 4 (IT)