GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - At Mol Arena, the Adrian men's volleyball team's 2022 campaign got off to a bumpy start on day one of the Michigan Men's Volleyball Invitational, as the Bulldogs were dealt back-to-back defeats.
 
Game 1 | Adrian 1, Siena Heights 3 (25-23, 18-25, 20-25, 16-25)

In the first match of the day on Friday, the Bulldogs came away with a hard-fought first set, but that was all they could muster against their crosstown rival, as the Saints rattled off three-straight to clinch the win.

Neither side could build a lead larger than two points in the opening frame, leading up a nail-biting finish.

Knotted at 22-22, a kill by Peyton Doelling followed by a Siena Heights attack error had Adrian on the cusp of one-set advantage.

After a Bulldog mis cue by Chase Heuer, the sophomore came right back to redeem himself with a set-clinching kill.

From that point on, however, the Saints had all the right moves in all the right places, posting attack-percentages of 0.458 in the second set before closing things out in the fourth set with a mark of 0.533.

Adrian, on the other hand, gradually saw its offensive efficiency slip from a 0.379 attack- percentage in the match's opening set, to 0.000 in the final frame.

Heuer led the 'Dogs against Siena Heights with 15 total kills. Brandon Ravelo chipped in 36 assists, while Jacob Rembulat stood out on the back line with 13 digs.
 
Game 2 | Adrian 0, Lawrence Tech 3 (20-25, 21-25, 19-25)

In the nightcap match, the Bulldogs were narrowly outkilled by the Blue Devils 37-33, but errors on the black and gold's attack proved to be their downfall.

Lawrence Tech was able to piece together small run after small run in the match's first set, putting them ahead 20-15.

Despite four late kills by Tedrick Gula, the locals could not overcome the deficit, dropping the set 25-20.

The action became slightly more one-sided in the middle set, as the Blue Devils raced out to leads of 5-2, and eventually 17-11.

Adrian would respond, nevertheless, with a 5-0 stretch, courtesy of multiple Lawrence Tech errors and another Gula kill. But the 'Devils bounced back in kind en route to a commanding two sets to none lead that they would ultimately ride to a three-set sweep.

Gula paced the Bulldog offense in their second match, finishing with 11 kills. Ravelo, again led Adrian with 29 assists.

All told, the locals closed the first day of the tournament with a 0.133 attack-percentage on 79 kills. The team also racked up 11 total blocks and six service aces.

Adrian (0-2) resumes action in Grand Rapids tomorrow afternoon against hosts, Cornerstone University at 1 p.m. before closing their stay with Aquinas College at 5 p.m.