The Dordt men's volleyball team opened up their season with a 3-1 win over the OUAZ Spirit in Surprise, Arizona on Thursday night.
"Tonight our guys found several different ways to be successful in this season opener match."
Said head coach Chad Hanson.
"At different points of the match, we were able to show strength from the service line or attacking or our defensive transition. One stabilizer throughout the match was our serve receive passing. What a joy to see us compete well and begin our season with a win in front of a strong Defender Nation crowd. We look forward to continuing this road trip one match at a time."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Defenders came out strong in set one as they narrowly won, 25-23. The Defenders were lead by Cade Schmidt who had four kills while hitting 1.000. Dordt tallied 14 total kills in the first set while holding OUAZ to 10 kills and an attack percentage of 0.133.
Dordt won set two, this time lead by Joel Van Groningen who tallied five kills on seven total attacks. An attack error from OUAZ made the score 8-3 and a Joel Van Groningen and Andrews Guzman kill made the score 10-5. The Defenders would get the score to 21-14 before the Spirit went on an 8-4 run to cut bring the second set with in two. Andres Guzman would score the set point on a kill, assisted by Lukas Van Groningen.
Set three began with OUAZ taking an early 8-3. Dordt would rally off three unanswered points to bring the set to a 8-6 score before OUAZ's Jack Hubbard put away a kill to extend their lead. The Defenders tied back up with a OUAZ service error and two more attack errors and trading kills to make the score 10-10. The set would go back and forth until the Spirit went on a 7-3 run to to build the lead to 21-16. Dordt answered with four straight of their own, including two kills from Joel Van Groningen. However, OUAZ would avoid the sweep with a Jack Hubbard kill to send the game to a fourth set.
The fourth set went back and forth, yet again as Andres Guzman and Cory Kuperus each recorded a kill to score Dordt's first two points. OUAZ seemed to be gaining momentum by scoring five straight, making the score 7-4. That lead wouldn't hold up as Dordt answered back with four of their own. Neither team was able to pull away until Joel Van Groningen recorded back-to-back kills that would prove to be the difference late in the set. Dordt was able to hold on for the win after Joel Van Groningen recorded another kill on match point.
Dordt's record is now 1-0 and they will face Park-Gilbert and No. 7 Benedictine Mesa on Friday.
By the numbers:
- Dordt hit .240 (55 kills, 125 total attacks, 25 attack errors)
- Dordt held OUAZ's hitting percentage to .193 (43 kills, 114 total attacks, 21 attack errors)
- OUAZ had the upper hand in blocks with 13 to Dordt's four
- Joel Van Groningen lead the Defenders in kills with 15
- Cade Schmidt .409 which is the second highest in his career
- Lukas Van Groningen recorded 41 assists
- Brady Fergen came away with a career high 18 digs
