HARROGATE, Tn. - The Hawks put on a quite a show in the opening set of the contest, going the distance for a 29-27 win, but weren't able to maintain the form as the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial University took the next three sets (29-27, 21-25, 23-25, 21-25) to claim a 3-1 victory in the match. 

Ljubisa Novakovic and Aleksandar Sosa combined for a 25 kills with 13 from Novakovic and 12 from Sosa to pace the Hawks while Relja Milosavljevic made his presence at the net known in a big way, adding a career-high 8 blocks. 

Set One 

The match started off very evenly, as neither side was able to press an advantage any larger than two points until well past the midway point of the frame at 16-13 in favor of LMU. 

Quincy hung within striking distance until using a three point run on a Novakovic kill and two Barnabas Fenyvesi kills to pull the Hawks back to level ground at 21-21. 

The Railsplitters took three of the next four to force set point at 24-22 before a kill and block from Tomas Badan drew the set even, once again, at 24-24.

The sides split the next six points to a 27-27 score where the Hawks finally pulled away on a block and kill for Sosa along with a Milosavljevic block to take the -set 29-27. 

Set Two 

QU looked poised to go on a run early in the second set, using four two point runs as part of a 9-5 start to the frame. Lincoln Memorial was able to work its way back to a draw later in the set at 13-13 before taking seven of the next 10 points from there to build a 20-16 edge. 

Quincy was able to narrow the margin back down to two points on a couple of occasions, but time ran too short as LMU took the set 25-21 soon after. 

Set Three

Quincy hung within striking distance during the early going, never trailing by more than a few points until the 11-10 mark where four of the next five points went in favor of the Railsplitters, finding LMU ahead 15-11. 

The Hawks responded with runs of two and four points, taking advantage of quite a few Lincoln Memorial errors and kills from Sosa and AJ Goedheer to lead it 17-16. 

LMU answered back with a four point run to regain a 20-17 advantage that they would never give back, weathering a storm that saw Quincy comeback to tie the match at 22-22 before Lincoln Memorial closed the door with three of the final four en route to the 25-23 win in the third set. 

Set Four 

Three points or less separated the sides throughout the opening stages of a tightly contested final set that saw LMU make the decisive run of the frame, breaking open a 20-15 advantage thanks to a late four point swing. 

The Hawks trimmed the deficit to three at 23-20 and 24-21, but weren't able to complete the comeback, dropping the set 25-21 and match 3-1. 

Stat Leaders: 
13 Kills - Ljubisa Novakovic
41 Assists - Armaan Dosanjh
8 Blocks - Relja Milosavljevic
9 Digs - Victor Scherer

Next Up 

The Hawks grace the home hardwood for the first time this season in their next match, hosting Park University on Tuesday (Jan. 28) for a 6:00 PM exhibition contest in Pepsi Arena.