Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's volleyball team (0-4) were held without a set win in both the team's games on Friday night. The Regents opened the triangular against NAIA foe Mount Mercy (2-1) and despite the first two sets being close, the Mustangs won all three of the sets and claimed victory. After a game between the two visiting teams, Rockford played the final game of the night against Illinois Wesleyan (1-1). It was a similar story to the first game, the Titans held off the Regents and claimed all three sets to earn their first victory of the season.



Match 1: Mount Mercy 0-3 (19-25, 20-25, 11-25)

• The opening set of the day started as a back-and-forth battle between both sides to a score of 9-9.
• Mount Mercy scored a couple of points to take the lead but lost it shortly after when Rockford went on an 8-1 run to take the lead 17-12. Jose Padron had an ace during the run to help the score sheet.
• In a good position to take the first set, the Regents hit a massive slump and gave up a 13-2 run, including seven straight points to end the set and would go down 1-0 to start the day.
• The Mustangs opened the second set in the lead and held on until a 5-point run put Rockford in front 11-10.
• The two teams exchanged points up until 18-18. Jose Padron had an ace in that span to help the Regents.
• RU took the team's final lead of the game after a block from Danny Karpenko and James Davenport, 19-18. What followed was a 7-1 run by Mount Mercy that slammed the door on Rockford's chances and gave the Mustangs their second set win.
• The third set was all Mount Mercy. Rockford was able to hold within a couple of points in the first portion of the set, but the Mustangs continued to put up small runs of points that made a huge difference in the Regent's largest set loss of the day, 25-11.

Match 2: Illinois Wesleyan 0-3 (18-25, 16-25, 17-25)

• Rockford opened its second match of the day in the lead off a James Davenport ace.
• Illinois Wesleyan and the Regents traded points until the Titans began pulling ahead after a 5-1 run. The score stood at 11-7.
• RU kept within striking distance until the score was at 15-14. Illinois Wesleyan took an opportunity to go on a 10-5 run to end the set in the Titans favor, 25-18, and pull ahead one set to none.
• The Titans ran away with the second set, pulling their lead to 22-10 throughout the set. 
• Rockford had a comeback chance, but, despite the six points for the Regents, Illinois Wesleyan was able to get the final three points and win the second set 25-16.
• The third set started with Illinois Wesleyan taking a 10-3 lead.
• Rockford kept up with IWU for most of the set after, including a 4-0 run to try and catch up with the score at 21-17.
• The Titans scored the last four points shortly after and took the final set and the match, winning 25-17.

Mount Mercy

• James Davenport had 6 kills, 6 digs, and a block.
• Connor McNear had 6 kills and a team-high 3 blocks.
• Josh Albers was the main setter with 19 assists.
• Jose Padron had 2 aces to go along with 5 kills and 3 digs.

Illinois Wesleyan

• Isaiah Dixon led the team in kills with 6. He also had a block.
• James Davenport led the team in digs with 6. He also recorded an ace, an assist, and 3 kills.
• Josh Albers had 14 assists with 5 digs and 2 blocks for the Regents.

Rockford will head on the road to take on Illinois Wesleyan in a 7pm match next Tuesday, January 25th. If you plan on traveling to the game, make sure you check our website for the Illinois Wesleyan COVID-19 guidelines.