Men’s Volleyball Swept at the UHSP Tri-Match
St. Louis, Mo.– The Graceland University Men's Volleyball team competed in the UHSP Tri-Match taking on University of Health Science and Pharmacy Eutectics and the Central Christian College of Kansas Tigers. Graceland took down the University of Health Science and Pharmacy Eutectics, 4-1 and swept the Central Christian College of Kansas Tigers, 3-0.
Game 1: Graceland (6-15; 3-13) vs. University of Health Science and Pharmacy (5-22; 2-16)
Set 1: Graceland 35 | UHSP 33
Both teams traded points. The Eutectics were the first to pull a lead of three points (6-9). Graceland would retaliate with their own 4-0 scoring run (11-10), kills from Malakai Christian and Sonny Tofi. Each team traded points and even the score. UHSP would put two points up to lead by one late in the set (30-31); Rylon Raczka would break the run with a kill. A kill and an ace from Jeremiah Ta'amu would pull the Yellowjackets to an advantage of one and would lead to the first-set victory.
Set 2: Graceland 25 | UHSP 23
The Yellowjackets would find the first lead of the second set (5-1); an ace by Josh Santana and a kill from Jeremiah Ta'amu contributed. The Eutectics would retaliate with a 4-0 scoring run to even the score (5-5). Graceland would find an 8-2 run to pull a six-point lead (13-7), kills from Rylon Raczka and Nicodemus Elliott and an ace from Jeremiah Ta'amu. UHSP would answer late in the set with a four-point jump to even the score 23-23. Back-to-back kills from Oliver Gaskins and Jackson Price would end the second set.
Set 3: Graceland 26 | UHSP 28
Graceland came out on fire to pull a 7-1 lead early; kills from Jeremiah Ta'amu and Rylon Raczka, aces from Axel Rasquero and blocks from Jeremiah Ta'amu and Malakai Christian contributed. UHSP would slowly close their gap and, with a three-point jump, take the lead 22-24. Graceland would even the score with a Will Simmers Kill. The Eutectic would snatch the remaining three points for the third set.
Set 4: Graceland 25 | UHSP 16
The Eutectics grabbed the first lead with a 7-2 scoring run. The Yellowjackets would fight back with a 4-0 run (8-8); kills from Rylon Raczka and Nicodemus Elliott and blocks from Will Simmers and Raczka contributed. With an 8-2 scoring run, the Yellowjackets would pull a seven-point lead (20-13); an ace from Gunner Ivey and Josh Santana, kills from Malakai Christian and Raczka, and a block from Jeremiah Ta'amu and Simmers contributed. Graceland would snatch five of the remaining six for the victory.
Graceland Leaders-
DIGS: Logan Book – 13
KILLS: Rylon Raczka – 19
ASSIST: Josh Santana – 26
SERVICE ACES: Josh Santana / Axel Rasquero / Jeremiah Ta'amu – 2
BLOCKS: Jeremiah Ta'amu – 6
University of Health Science and Pharmacy Leaders-
DIGS: Christopher Moore – 9
KILLS: Connor Behymer – 17
ASSIST: Cole Cwiklowski – 35
SERVICE ACES: Isaac Gallinero / Christopher Moore / Alex Whitesides – 2
BLOCKS: Alex Whitesides – 4
Game 2: Graceland (7-15) vs. Central Christian (1-23)
Set 1: Graceland 25 | Central Christian 13
The Yellowjackets came out on first with the first from behind with a 4-0 run (6-3); an ace from Jeremiah Ta'amu contributed. Graceland would start a 6-0 scoring run started by the Oliver Gaskins kill (12-5); aces from Kaden Goad and kills from Nicodemus Elliott and Malakai Christian contributed. The Tigers would push to close their deficit. A kill from Jeremiah Ta'amu would put the Yellowjackets on a 5-0 run (23-11). From the service of Gunner Ivey and kills from Rylon Raczka and Christian. Graceland would snatch the last two points from a Christian, and a Raczka kills.
Set 2: Graceland 25 | Central Christian 18
The Yellowjackets would pull an early 9-3 lead. Aces from Josh Santana and Gunner Ivey and kills from Santana, Jeremiah Ta'amu, Jackson Price, Malakia Christian and Rylon Raczka contributed. The Tigers retaliated with their own 7-0 scoring run (9-9). Both teams would find back-to-back runs. The Yellojakcets would get to set points from a 4-0 run (24-17); kills from Jackson Price, blocks from Raczka and Price contributed.
Set 3: Graceland 25 | Central Christian 7
Graceland would get an 8-1 lead from the ace by Gunner Ivey and blocks of Jeremiah Ta'amu, Malakai Christian and Rylon Raczka. The YellowJackets would work for a 12-1 scoring run to take the final set. An ace from Devan Ramsey and kills from Ta'amu, Raczka, Jackson Price, and Ivey contributed.
Graceland Leaders-
DIGS: Logan Book – 13
KILLS: Jeremiah Ta'amu – 8
ASSIST: Josh Santana – 15
SERVICE ACES: Kaden Goad – 3
BLOCKS: Malakai Christian – 4
Central Christian Leaders-
DIGS: Micah Avendano – 6
KILLS: Joel Creary – 5
ASSIST: L.A. DeBerry – 10
SERVICE ACES: L.A. DeBerry – 2
BLOCKS: Joel Creary – 3
Up Next:
The Men's Volleyball team will be back on their home court on Tuesday, March 21 on their senior night when they take on the Missouri Valley College Vikings. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.
-Yellowjackets-