CHICAGO, Ill.- The Quincy University Men's Volleyball team traveled to Chicago, Illinois on Saturday (April 1st). The Hawks played against #10 Loyola University Chicago in a MIVA match up. QU put up a good fight and took the game to five sets but could not finish the upset as they lost a close one (16-25), (23-25), (25-23), (25-23), (7-15). This would be the first time Quincy University would win a set against Loyola University Chicago since February 13, 2020.
First Set
The Ramblers would win the first two points of the game but a service error would get the Hawks on the board. Raje Alleyne would later get the first kill of the game for Quincy as he made it a one point game early. A kill by Roman Deryckere would tie the game at 4-4 early. But the Ramblers would go on a four point run to open the game up. Kills by Raje Alleyne and Logan Gieseke would make it a three point game but QU could not fully catch up and would lose the first set 25-16.
Second Set
The Hawks would get the first point of the second set thanks to a triple block by Raje Alleyne, Logan Gieseke, Keegan Carey. After going back and forth early in the set, an ace by Raje Alleyne and a kill by Roman Deryckere would give QU a two point lead. But the Ramblers would once again go on a run, this time for five straight points, to re-take the lead 10-7.
Quincy University's defense would carry the team as they held the Ramblers to a game low 0.231 hitting percentage. QU went on a 7-1 point run thanks to a couple of blocks and kills from Logan Gieseke and Raje Alleyne would give the Hawks a 22-21 lead. A service error from Loyola University Chicago would give Quincy a 23-22 lead but QU would commit three straight errors and lose the set 25-23.
Third Set
Looking to avoid a sweep, Quincy would score the first point of the third set on a kill by Logan Gieseke. A kill by Keegan Carey and an error by the ramblers would give the Hawks a 3-1 lead early. After being down one, Roman Deryckere would tie the game with a kill and Raje Alleyne would follow that up with a kill of his own to regain the lead 7-6. Three kills in a row by Raje Alleyne and a block by Logan Gieseke and Keegan Carey would give QU a 12-11 lead.
It would go back and forth for the next several points but the Ramblers would go on a three point run giving them a 21-19 lead. But Raje Alleyne was not ready to go home yet as he would get a kill followed by an ace to tie the game at 21-21. The Hawks would win four of the next five points and win the set 25-23. This would be the first time Quincy University would win a set against Loyola University Chicago since February 13, 2020.
Fourth Set
Looking to keep the momentum going Quincy would go on an early three point run thanks to a kill by Roman Deryckere and back to back aces by Raje Alleyne to give QU an early 4-2 lead. The Ramblers would go on a six point run to take the lead 10-7. After going back and forth, a kill by AJ Goedheer and a block by Raje Alleyne would make it a one point game at 16-17.
After being down 22-20 late, the Hawks would not back down as Raje Alleyne would get a kill following a Ramblers error to tie the game at 22-22. Loyola University Chicago would win the next point but Quincy would not quit as Raje Alleyne would get two kills and a block by AJ Goedheer and Logan Gieseke would allow Quincy to win the set 25-23 and force a fifth set against the #10 Loyola University Chicago.
Fifth Set
Trying to complete the reverse sweep Raje Alleyne would get the first point for the Hawks in the final set but the Ramblers would go on a four point run to make it 5-1 early. Raje Alleyne would get another kill making it 5-2 but the Ramblers would once again go on a run and make it a 10-3 game. Loyola University Chicago would commit four serving errors but this would not be enough for the Hawks as they would lose the final set 15-7.
Quincy will be back at home on Thursday (April 6th) as they host McKendree University in Pepsi Arena. Game is set to start at 7:00 PM.
Stats:
Raje Alleyne: 20 Kills, 8 Digs, 5 Blocks, 4 Aces
Logan Gieseke: 8 Kills, 5 Blocks
Roman Deryckere: 8 Kills
Keegan Carey: 3 Blocks, 7 Digs
Jonas Holzinger: 40 Assists
