LINCOLN, Ill. - The Rockford University men's volleyball team (3-18) fell in straight sets on Monday evening to the Lincoln College Lynx (5-15). The first two sets were very tight, with the Lynx squeaking out close wins. However, Lincoln then took control of the match midway through the third, to seal the 25-21, 25-18, 25-14 win. Statistically, the match was basically a dead heat in nearly every category. Lincoln finished with slight advantages in kills (32-29), assists (30-28), service errors (11-13) and blocks (4-2), while Rockford ended the match with a slight edge in digs (48-47) and block errors (0-4). Unfortunately, the difference in the match was Rockford's 23 attack errors compared to just nine for Lincoln, leading to a 14-point advantage for the Lynx.
- The match got off to a great start with Rockford holding an early 7-4 advantage. Danny Karpenko led the offensive charge with a pair of service aces, while Isaiah Dixon and Jose Padron each had a kill.
- Rockford would extend its lead to as many as four on two different occasions, with the first one coming after back-to-back kills from Isaiah Dixon.
- With the Regents still holding a four-point edge at 15-11, the Lynx ran off six straight points to take their first lead since it was 3-2.
- Lincoln would then extend its lead to as many as five points at 23-18.
- The Regents momentarily got back within three after an Isaiah Dixon kill, but unfortunately, the Lynx scored the very next point to win the set 25-21.
- The Lynx carried their momentum into the second set and grabbed a quick 8-2 lead.
- Fortunately, Rockford responded with three straight points, led by a kill from Jose Padron, to cut the deficit in half.
- However, Lincoln answered right back with a 3-0 run of its own and pushed its lead back out to six.
- Unfortunately, the Regents were never able to get any closer than five the rest of the way and dropped the second set 25-18.
- Rockford jumped out to a quick 4-3 lead in the third set. Danny Karpenko and Jose Padron each recorded kills, and Isaiah Dixon had a service ace, to give the Regents the early lead.
- With the match now tied at 7-7, the Lynx went on a 13-3 run to take a commanding 20-10 advantage.
- Rockford was only able to get as close as nine the remainder of the way and dropped the final set 25-14 and the match 3-0.
- Jose Padron tallied a double-double with 10 kills, 11 digs, 2 blocks and an assist.
- Isaiah Dixon finished with 10 kills, 1 ace and 1 dig.
- Nick Magdadaro led the team with 15 digs and 2 assists.
- Josh Albers had a team-high 22 assists, 6 digs and 1 kill.
