RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Adrian College men's volleyball team improved their overall record to 4-1 for the second time in program history after a come-from-behind win over Concordia University Chicago Friday. The Bulldogs would finish the Concordia-Chicago Quad 1-1 after a loss to Illinois Wesleyan to finish the evening. 

GAME ONE

The Adrian College men's volleyball team is no stranger to overcoming an in-game deficit. To start the Concordia-Chicago Quad on Friday afternoon, the Bulldogs would trail by three on four separate occasions during the first set. Instead of folding and giving in to their opposition's momentum, the Bulldogs quickly responded. Chase Heuer and Beck Fieldhouse would combine for nine kills on 16 total attacks for the Bulldogs. Junior Jacob Rembulat, the reigning MCVL Defensive Player of the Week, recorded a team-high ten digs while Andrew Gawrisch supplied 11 service aces. The Bulldogs went on to win the first set 31-29 after rallying from four three-point deficits to start the match.

Again, in the second set, the Bulldogs would find themselves behind 13-9. The Bulldogs swung back at Concordia-Chicago and recorded a 16-6 scoring run en route to a 25-19 second-set victory. During the scoring run, Bulldogs Carson Bell, Fieldhouse, and Heuer, combined for four service aces. 

In the third set, the Bulldogs would trail by as much as three on two separate instances. 

The men's volleyball team took Concordia University Chicago to the brink after kills from Fieldhouse and Heuer to put the Bulldogs ahead 24-22. However, Concordia University Chicago would close the set on a 4-0 run to win the set 26-24. 

To start the fourth set, the Bulldogs were down 9-4 after Concordia Chicago battled back and went on a 5-0 run against the Bulldogs. Now down 12-7, it was time for the Bulldogs to flip the switch. Coach Jose Soto's Bulldogs banded together and climbed back to take the lead at 18-17 after a Kill from Heuer. From then on, for almost every point that the Bulldogs would score, their opponent would counter with a point of their own. Deadlocked at 23 apiece, the Bulldogs closed out the match with a kill by Fieldhouse and a service error by Concordia Chicago. 

With their first game of the afternoon complete, the Bulldogs continued their historic start to the season heading 4-0 into a matchup with Illinois Wesleyan University Friday evening.   

GAME TWO 

The Bulldogs would conclude Friday evening with their second-ever match against Illinois Wesleyan University. During the first set of play, the Bulldogs would see their largest lead at four after a kill by Bell, which put the Bulldogs ahead 14-10. The momentum was ever-shifting in the first set, as neither team gained a substantial advantage over one another. A kill by Heuer tied the set and the Bulldogs were knotted up with Illinois Wesleyan at 20 apiece. However, after a back-and-forth battle, the Bulldogs would drop the first set of play against the Titans by two points after Illinois Wesleyan concluded the set with a 5-3 scoring run. 

In the second set, the Bulldogs would tie the match up at a 1-1 deadlock. After trailing 5-4 early in the set, the Bulldogs would outsource the Titans on a 21-18 run. Adrian would take set two, 25-23 after Gawrisch set up his teammate Heuer for the set-ending kill. 

The third and final set was an all-out battle. Illinois Wesleyan jumped out to a 14-10 lead over the Bulldogs after doubling up the men's volleyball team on a 6-3 run. The Bulldogs buckled down on the Titans and eventually tied up the match after a kill by Bell. In the second half of the set, the largest lead that either team would amount to was the Titan's three-point lead which occurred twice. Heuer was able pull the Bulldogs within two after a kill, bringing the score to 22-24 in favor of Illinois Wesleyan. However, it was not enough as the Bulldogs would come up just short, falling 22-25 on the evening.   

Historical Notes:

Today marked the third time in program history that the Bulldogs would square off with Concordia University Chicago and the second time ever that the Bulldogs would face off with Illinois Wesleyan University. With their 3-1 win over Concordia Chicago, the Bulldogs improved their series lead over the Cougars to three games to one. The Bulldogs trial Illinois Wesleyan University 2-0 after their loss this evening.

For the second time in program history, the men's volleyball team has started 4-1 in their first five games of the season. Additionally, four Bulldogs ranked inside the top-five of the eight major statistical categories in the MCVL (Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League) before tonight's matchup with Concordia Chicago. Heuer ranked first in service aces per set and junior Rembulat ranked third in both digs and digs per set. Fieldhouse has also started the season as one of the league's most proficient players as he ranked third in hitting percentage before tonight. 

Up Next:

The Bulldogs will return to Merillat Sport and Fitness Center on Tuesday, January 31 at 7:00 PM for their home opener against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Live stream and Live Stats information are available under the men's volleyball schedule.