BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Rockford University men's volleyball team (0-5) dropped a heartbreaker in five-sets on Tuesday night to the Illinois Wesleyan University Titans (2-1). Rockford took the first two sets 26-24 and 25-19, but then dropped sets three and four by identical 26-24 scores to set up a fifth and deciding set. Unfortunately, it was the Titans who scored six of the last seven points in the match to take the third set 15-10 and the match 3-2. Despite the loss, Rockford played by far its best match of the season and broke seven different single-match school records. The Regents broke the RU individual records for digs (James Davenport, Tristen Cox and Josh Albers - 18), attack attempts (Jose Padron - 59) and attack attempts per set (Jose Padron - 11.8). Rockford also broke team records for digs (87), digs per set (17.4), attack attempts (144) and attack attempts per set (36.4). 

• The two schools went back and forth trading points in the opening portion of the first set, with neither team leading by more than two points. 
• With the set tied at 7-7, the Titans scored the next three points to take the largest lead thus far for either school. 
• The Titans would stretch their lead out to as many as six at 16-10, before the Regents began to mount a ferocious comeback down the stretch. 
• With the Regents still trailing by five at 18-13, Rockford ran off five straight points, capped off by a James Davenport kill, to knot the match at 18-18. 
• The two teams then traded points over the next several minutes, as neither was able to gain any separation. 
• Fortunately, Rockford's James Davenport scored three of the final four points in the set, including two straight, to win the set (26-24) and give the Regents an early 1-0 lead. 
• The second set got off to a horrible start, with the Titans scoring the first four points and jumping out to a 4-0 advantage. 
• However, the Regents answered right back with a 4-0 run of their own to tie the set at 4-4. 
• The Titans would push their lead back up to three at 8-5, before Rockford ran off four straight points to grab its first lead of the second set. Jose Padron and James Davenport each tallied a kill during that stretch. 
• Rockford extended its lead up to as many as three points midway through the set, before the Titans fought back and tied it at 18-18. 
• Fortunately, the Regents closed on a 7-1 run to win the second set 25-19 and take a commanding 2-0 lead. Connor McNear and James Davenport each had a kill, while Josh Albers had one kill and Da'Quan Bates recorded a service ace.
• Rockford came out strong and took the lead in the opening moments of the third set.
• The Regents jumped out to a quick 8-6 advantage, and then scored four straight points to make it a 12-6 game. Da'Quan Bates had two more service aces and James Davenport and Isaiah Dixon each had a kill over that span. 
• Rockford would stretch its lead to as many seven at 15-8, before the Titans slowly began to chip away. 
• Illinois Wesleyan fought all the back and would eventually tie the set at 23-23. 
• However, Rockford's Jose Padron smashed home a kill on the very next point, to give the Regents their first match point of the season at 24-23. 
• Unfortunately, the Titans scored the next three points and won the third set 26-24. 
• Rockford got off to a slow start in the fourth set, falling behind 7-2. 
• However, the Regents went on a 5-0 run to knot the match at 7-7. Jose Padron led the way with two kills and Isaiah Dixon chipped in one kill. 
• The Regents continued their hot streak by scoring five of the next eight points and grabbing a 12-10 lead. 
• The set continued to go back and forth with neither team leading by more than three points the remainder of the way. 
• With Rockford now holding a slim 23-22 lead, Connor McNear smashed home a kill, to give his team a pair of match points. 
• Unfortunately, just like in the third set, the Titans scored the final four points to win the set 26-24 and send the match to a fifth and deciding set. 
• The fifth set continued the back and forth nature of the match, with each team leading at various points. 
• Illinois Wesleyan scored the first three points of the set, and then Rockford responded with a 3-0 run to tie it at 3-3. 
• The Titans then used a 4-1 run to retake the lead at 7-4. 
• Fortunately, Rockford scored four straight points to grab its first lead of the set at 8-7. 
• Three points later with the match tied at 9-9, the Titans ran off six of the next seven points to win the set 15-10 and the match 3-2. 

• Jose Padron finished with a team-high 16 kills on 59 attack attempts, 13 digs, 1 assist and 1 ace. Padron's 59 attack attempts and 11.8 attack attempts per set both broke the Rockford University single-match school records. 
• James Davenport tallied 13 kills on 51 attack attempts, 18 digs, 1 assist and 1 block. Davenport's 18 digs broke the school record for digs in a match. 
• Josh Albers recorded 40 assists, 18 digs, 2 aces and 2 blocks. Albers also broke the RU single-match record with 18 digs. 
• Tristen Cox also broke the RU single-match record with 18 digs. 

The RU men's volleyball team returns to the court on Friday, January 28 at home against Trine University. First serve is set for 7 PM at the Seaver Center.