QUINCY, Ill. – It had been 314 days since the Quincy University men's volleyball team last took the court for a game. But on Wednesday (Jan. 13), the Hawks were back in Pepsi Arena for game action as they hosted NAIA opponent, Indiana Tech. Quincy swept the Warriors in three sets, 25-22, 25-17, and 25-19.
The visiting Warriors were coming off an impressive win in their first game of the regular season on January 9th. Indiana Tech defeated the pre-season second-ranked team in NAIA, Campbellsville University, by a score of 3-1.
That momentum appeared to continue into the first set of Wednesday's game with the Hawks. After the first fourteen points, the game was tied at 7-7.
Quincy scored the next four-of-five points to move in front, 11-8.
Omari Wheeler collected a pair of kills which was also paired with a block from Wheeler and
Cooper Coleman to fuel the run.
While QU's lead never surpassed four points, the Hawks remained in control and never surrendered the lead to get the first set win, 25-22.
The Hawks were dominant in the second set after hitting a .370 percentage with 12 kills on 27 attempts and only two errors. Quincy took set two, 25-17.
Indiana Tech came out in set three by scoring the first five-of-six points to take an early 5-1 lead. Quincy answered back with a 4-1 run to make it a 6-5 deficit.
The Warriors got the next point to go up 7-5, but QU went on a tear. The Hawks scored six straight points highlighted by kills from Wheeler and
Manuel Hernandez as well as a block by Wheeler and
Zach Reider. This run gave the Hawks an 11-7 lead.
Quincy never relinquished the lead despite Indiana Tech cutting the score to 18-16, QU. At this point, the Hawks surged back in command following five unanswered points.
This was the final blow as the Hawks took set three 25-19.
Stat Leaders
Omari Wheeler - 17 kills, 4 digs, 2 block assists
Yoran Raymaekers - 30 assists and 12 digs
Next Game
The Hawks will take on the #1 ranked NAIA team this Friday (Jan. 15) when Grand View comes to Pepsi Arena for a 7:00 p.m. night tilt.
