GREENVILLE, Ill. - The Rockford University men's volleyball team (0-4) dropped a pair of matches Friday evening to Fontbonne University (1-9) and Greenville University (1-5). The Regents opened with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-14) defeat at the hands of Fontbonne and then dropped its second match of the day 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-12) to Greenville. 

Fontbonne University (25-12, 25-12, 25-14)

• The first set was highly competitive in the opening moments. 
• Fontbonne jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead, before Rockford used a 4-2 run of its own to make it a 6-5 Griffin advantage. Randall Simental and Jeremy Weaver each smashed home a kill, while Marcus Pennington recorded a service ace.
• Unfortunately, the Griffins scored 16 of the next 19 points en route to taking the first set 25-12.
• The second set got off to a horrible start, with Rockford quickly falling behind 13-3.
• The Griffins were able to extend their lead to as many as 14 points before Rockford chipped away at the deficit. 
• Rockford used a late 5-2 run to pull back within 11 at 23-12. Unfortunately, Fontbonne scored the next two points to win the second set and take a 2-0 lead. 
• The third set went back-and-forth early on, as neither team led by more than a few points.  
• With the set tied at 3-3, Fontbonne used a 3-0 run to take a 6-3 advantage. 
• The Regents answered with two straight points, capped off by a Maurice Hogan kill, to pull back within one at 6-5.
• The two schools continued to trade points over the next few minutes, as the Griffins clung to a 10-8 lead. 
• Unfortunately, Fontbonne outscored Rockford 15-6 over the remainder of the set en route to a 3-0 win. 

Greenville University (25-11, 25-17, 25-12)

• Rockford got off to a rocky start in the first set against Greenville. 
• The Panthers scored 12 of the first 15 points to leap out to an early 12-3 advantage. 
• Greenville would outscore Rockford 13-8 the remainder of the way en route to taking the opening set 25-11.
• The second set had a slightly different feel, as Rockford and Greenville traded jabs early on. 
• The Panthers jumped out to a 4-1 advantage before Rockford scored four of the next seven points to make it a 7-5 game. Marcus Pennington led the RU attack with a pair of kills over that span. 
• However, Greenville scored the next five points to extend its lead to 12-5. 
• Rockford then went on a 6-3 run of its own to pull back within four. Three different Regents tallied kills during the run, led by two from Randall Simental and one apiece from Jeremy Weaver and Matthew Seger. 
• Unfortunately, the Regents were unable to get any closer, as Greenville closed the set on a 10-6 run to take a 2-0 lead. 
• The Panthers continued their momentum into the third set, scoring the first 13 points to take a commanding lead. 
• Rockford was able to get back within nine, but it was not enough, as the Panthers went on to win match in straight sets. 

Fontbonne University

• Randall Simental finished with a team-high 5 kills, 9 digs and 1 assist.
• Franklin McDaniel tallied a team-high 10 digs and 1 assist.
• Jorge Pando added a team-high 10 assists and 6 digs.  

Greenville University

• Randall Simental had a team-high 11 kills, 5 digs and 1 ace.
• Franklin McDaniel and Maurice Hogan each added 8 digs. 
• Jorge Pando finished with 16 assists, 2 digs and 1 kill.

The Rockford University men's volleyball team returns to the court on Tuesday, February 5 at Millikin University. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.