Men's Volleyball Opens Play with Competitive Matches Against Rockhurst and Ottawa
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockhurst (2-5,0-0 DI Independent) | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 3 |
| Graceland (0-1) | 20 | 10 | 25 | 14 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graceland (0-2) | 14 | 7 | 18 | 0 |
| Ottawa (1-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Rockhurst
| Game Statistics | Graceland | Rockhurst |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting % | -0.009 | 0.281 |
| Blocks | 5 | 4 |
| Digs | 30 | 43 |
| Aces | 5 | 5 |
Ottawa
| Game Statistics | Ottawa | Graceland |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting % | 0.478 | -0.027 |
| Blocks | 8 | 3 |
| Digs | 41 | 13 |
| Aces | 4 | 3 |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Graceland University men's volleyball team faced a challenging weekend, dropping two matches against Rockhurst University and Ottawa University at the Mason-Halpin Field House. The Yellowjackets battled hard but ultimately fell short, moving to a 2-5 overall record and 0-0 in conference play.
Match 1: Rockhurst 3, Graceland 1 (25-20, 25-14, 23-25, 25-10)
Graceland opened the match strong but struggled to sustain momentum against a formidable Rockhurst squad. The Yellowjackets recorded a total of 37 kills with a hitting percentage of .215, while Rockhurst capitalized on Graceland's 28 attack errors to maintain control throughout the match.
Key contributors for Graceland included:
- Andrew Cziep: Led the team with 11 kills, hitting .091, and contributed 3 digs.
- Luis Garcia: Posted an impressive .429 hitting percentage with 7 kills and 12 digs.
- Blake Hauschild: Added 4 kills and 1 block assist.
- AJ Rasquero: Served as the defensive anchor with 7 digs.
Despite a third-set rally that saw Graceland secure a 25-23 win, Rockhurst's balanced attack and efficient serving were too much to overcome. The Yellowjackets struggled with consistency, recording 17 service errors across four sets.
Match 2: Ottawa 3, Graceland 0 (25-14, 25-7, 25-18)
In their second match of the day, Graceland faced a dominant Ottawa team that controlled the pace of play from start to finish. The Yellowjackets recorded a negative hitting percentage of -.027 with 14 kills and 16 errors on 75 total attempts.
Offensive leaders for Graceland included:
- Andrew Cziep: Tallied a team-high 5 kills and 2 service aces.
- Elijah Kline: Contributed 3 kills and 3 digs.
- Davian George: Recorded 1 kill and 1 block assist.
Ottawa's defense proved difficult to crack, holding Graceland to single-digit scoring in the second set and forcing 14 reception errors. The Yellowjackets showed resilience in the third set, staying within striking distance before Ottawa pulled away late.
Looking Ahead
Graceland will have an opportunity to regroup and make adjustments before their next match on Friday, January 31st, when they face Brescia College in St. Louis at the Heart of America Challenge.
For more information on Graceland men's volleyball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.