Fairfield, Conn. - The St. Thomas Aquinas Men's Volleyball team battled back from an 0-2 deficit to force a fifth and deciding set on Saturday evening against Sacred Heart University, but the host Pioneers powered through to take a 3-2 decision over the Spartans at the William H. Pitt Athletic & Convocation Center.
STAC slips to 11-8 on the season, while Sacred Heart moves to 6-11.
The Spartans and Pioneers went the distance, as Sacred Heart took the first two sets before STAC righted the ship and rallied to even the match with two straight victories of their own. A thrilling fifth set ensued between the sides, but it would be hosts that would find their game late to take care of business by the narrowest of margins.
Set Results
Set 1: SHU 25/STAC 19
Set 2: SHU 25/STAC 22
Set 3: STAC 25/SHU 19
Set 4: STAC 25/SHU 22
Set 5: SHU 15/STAC 12
How it Happened
- As a team, Sacred Heart recorded 54 kills compared to STAC's 50. The Pioneers also had 7 blocks and 51 assists, while the Spartans tallied 15.5 blocks and 48 assists.
- St. Thomas Aquinas College outhit Sacred Heart University by a .242 to .206 margin for the match.
- Kyran Versteegen led the Spartans offense with a match-high 24 kills. He also had a service ace, 11 digs, a solo block and three block assists.
- Marcus Franck tallied 42 set assists (8.4 assists/set). Franck also accumulated a service ace, nine digs, a solo block and two block assists for the maroon and gold.
- Jannis Freude registered 15 kills, an assist, four service aces, nine digs, a solo block and five block assists for the Spartans.
- David Weiss picked up four kills, an assist, a solo block and nine block assists for STAC on Saturday.
- Raoul Kerkdijk recorded a kill, five digs and two block assists on the evening.
- Ivaylo Todorov accumulated four assists and nine digs over five sets.
- STAC has now gone to a deciding fifth set in three matches this season and holds a 2-1 record in those contests.
Up Next
The Spartans pay a visit to Merrimack College on Friday, March 28 for a 7:00 p.m. match at Hammel Court in North Andover, Massachusetts.