Graceland Falls in Straight Sets to UHSP in Final Conference Match

LAMONI, Iowa — The Graceland University men's volleyball team dropped its final Heart of America Athletic Conference contest of the season, falling in straight sets to the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP) on Saturday afternoon at the Morden Center. Set scores were 25-10, 25-22, and 25-16. With the result, Graceland falls to 2-23 overall and 0-18 in the Heart, while UHSP improves to 13-16 overall and 6-12 in conference play.

The Yellowjackets struggled to establish consistency offensively, posting a team hitting percentage of -.011 on 94 total attacks. Graceland tallied 22 kills against 23 errors, while UHSP finished with 35 kills and only 12 errors for a .284 team hitting percentage.

The opening set saw UHSP take early control, using a 10-2 run to pull away. Grant Hoover and Dickson Colado combined for six kills in the first frame, while the Eutectics' serve game caused problems for Graceland's first contact. Graceland hit just -.100 in the first set, with eight errors on 30 swings. A brief spark came via Luis Garcia's assist to Elijah Kline, but UHSP closed out the set with a kill from Cooper Hansen.

In set two, the Yellowjackets played their most competitive frame of the afternoon. Christopher Sawyer recorded six kills, including a transition score late in the set that brought the Morden Center crowd to its feet. Graceland trimmed an early 9-5 deficit to 15-15 with key swings from Kline, Sawyer, and Andrew Cziep, and a service ace from Malakai Moua tied the match midway through the set. Despite the surge, UHSP countered with a balanced attack and two late kills from Hoover to take the second set, 25-22.

The third set opened with a pair of early Graceland kills from Sawyer and Cziep, but UHSP's offense remained efficient. The Eutectics hit .406 in the final frame, with Preston Coburn and Colado each registering kills that extended their lead. Graceland couldn't recover from an 11-3 hole, though late points from Blake Hauschild and Kline helped cut the deficit. Sawyer added his final kill of the match off a set from Garcia, who finished with 13 assists and three digs.

Individually, Sawyer led Graceland with six kills, while Cziep added five and Kline chipped in six. Hauschild added two kills and two block assists, while AJ Rasquero collected 13 digs to lead the defense. Cziep also tallied one solo block and a service ace.

For UHSP, Grant Hoover posted a match-high 12 kills, followed by Colado's eight kills and two service aces. Setter RJ Dilks dished out 26 assists and tied for the team lead in digs with seven.

Following the match, Graceland head coach Eric Majors praised his team's competitiveness.

"We've been tested all season, and this group continues to compete with character," Majors said. "Today we executed in stretches, especially in that second set, and we were right there late. We'll regroup and be ready for Tuesday to close the season the right way."

Graceland will conclude its 2025 campaign with a Senior Night matchup against Morningside University on Tuesday evening. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Morden Center.

For more information on Graceland men's volleyball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.