The Dordt Defender men's volleyball team split its competitions on Friday at a classic hosted by Olivet Nazarene in Bourbainnes, Illinois. Dordt beat the hosts 3-1 and lost to Mount Vernon Nazarene to finish four matches in two days with a 3-1 record.
Dordt vs Olivet Nazarene
The Dordt University men's volleyball team remained unbeaten on the season with a 3–1 victory over Olivet Nazarene University Friday morning inside McHie Arena, winning by set scores of 25–19, 23–25, 25–23, 25–20.
Box Score (PDF)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dordt controlled much of the opening set despite several early ties. The teams were deadlocked eight times early, including at 9–9, before the Defenders used a decisive 7–2 run to seize momentum. That stretch featured a service ace from
Colt Schmidt, a
Cade Schmidt kill, and back-to-back ONU attack errors to push Dordt in front 16–11. Dordt continued to apply pressure offensively, closing the set on a 4–1 spurt capped by a
Kai Chapman kill to take a 25–19 win.
The second set swung back and forth early before Olivet Nazarene gradually built separation. After Dordt trimmed an 18–12 deficit to 19–17 behind kills from
Joel Van Groningen and
Lance Vermeer, ONU responded with a 3–0 run that included a block and a kill from Cade Ooms to regain control. Dordt again pulled within one at 24–23 following a Vermeer kill and an ONU attack error, but the Tigers secured the set 25–23 to even the match.
Dordt responded emphatically in the third. After the score was tied 3–3, the Defenders went on a 6–0 run, highlighted by a
Joel Van Groningen service ace and consecutive blocks from
Lance Vermeer and
Kai Chapman, to open up a 9–3 advantage. Olivet Nazarene chipped away and later tied the set at 18–18, but Dordt answered with a 4–1 push, sparked by
Cade Schmidt kills from both the middle and right side. With the score tied again at 23–23, Dordt closed the set on back-to-back points, finishing with a Chapman kill to take the 25–23 decision.
The fourth set featured another tight start with multiple ties through 6–6 before ONU used a 7–1 run to grab a 13–7 lead, aided by three Dordt attack errors and a service ace. Dordt steadily worked back, scoring eight of the next ten points to pull within 17–15 as Vermeer and
Cory Kuperus teamed up at the net for blocks. With the score tied at 18–18, Dordt seized full control with a 7–2 closing run, fueled by two
Joel Van Groningen kills, a block from
Cory Kuperus and
Nicodemus Elliott, and a
Colt Schmidt service ace to seal the 25–20 win.
THE NUMBERS
Team Comparison
- Kills: Dordt 44 | Olivet Nazarene 48
- Hitting Percentage: Dordt .255 | Olivet Nazarene .198
- Digs: Dordt 29 | Olivet Nazarene 30
- Blocks: Dordt 10.0 | Olivet Nazarene 7.0
Dordt Individual Leaders
- Kills: Joel Van Groningen (12), Cade Schmidt (10), Kai Chapman (9), Lance Vermeer (8)
- Assists: Joseph Jang (23), McCullough Unruh (15)
- Digs: Colt Schmidt (16), Cade Schmidt (6)
- Service Aces: Colt Schmidt (4), Joel Van Groningen (2)
- Blocks: Cory Kuperus (5), Lance Vermeer (3), Kai Chapman (3), Cade Schmidt (3), Nicodemus Elliott (2)
Dordt vs Mount Vernon Nazarene
The Dordt University men's volleyball team saw its winning streak halted Friday afternoon, falling in three sets to Mount Vernon Nazarene University at McHie Arena. The Cougars claimed the match by scores of 25–19, 27–25, 25–16.
Box Score (PDF)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mount Vernon Nazarene set the tone early in the opening set, breaking a 9–9 tie with a 6–1 run fueled by two Xander Devault kills and a service ace to take control at 15–10. Dordt answered with a 4–1 stretch late in the set, highlighted by a
Joel Van Groningen kill and a service ace, but MVNU closed on a 4–1 run to secure the 25–19 win.
The second set was the most competitive of the match and featured 11 ties and four lead changes. Dordt used a 5–1 run midway through the frame to erase an early deficit, keyed by kills from
Kai Chapman and
Joel Van Groningen, pulling even at 11–11. Later, Dordt clawed back from a 22–18 deficit with a 6–2 surge, including back-to-back points at the net from
Nicodemus Elliott and a block by
Joel Van Groningen and
Lance Vermeer, to tie the set at 24–24. The teams traded points to reach 25–25, but Mount Vernon Nazarene closed the set with consecutive points off a kill and a Dordt attack error to take the marathon 27–25 decision.
Momentum stayed with the Cougars in the third set. After Dordt briefly led 4–3, Mount Vernon Nazarene went on a decisive 9–3 run, sparked by two service aces and three straight kills from the left side, to open a 12–6 advantage. Dordt attempted to respond with kills from Van Groningen and Vermeer, but MVNU continued to control play offensively, stretching the lead to 20–13. The Cougars finished the match on a 5–2 run, closing out the set 25–16.
THE NUMBERS
Team Comparison
- Kills: Dordt 38 | Mount Vernon Nazarene 37
- Hitting Percentage: Dordt .204 | Mount Vernon Nazarene .367
- Digs: Dordt 30 | Mount Vernon Nazarene 30
- Blocks: Dordt 4.0 | Mount Vernon Nazarene 4.5
Dordt Individual Leaders
Dordt moves to 3–1 on the season following the afternoon match. The Defenders conclude the Chicago trip against Illinois Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon.
