ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's volleyball team opened its season by splitting a pair of matches against Maranatha and Wabash. Rockford began the day by topping Maranatha Baptist University (25-19, 25-13, 25-15) and then fell to Wabash College (16-25, 14-25, 22-25). The Regents racked up an impressive 40 kills in the opening match compared to just ten for Maranatha. Rockford also broke multiple records against the Sabercats.
Connor McNear broke the school record for hitting percentage (.667) and the Regents also toppled numerous team single-match records. Unfortunately, the Regents were unable to carry that momentum forward and fell in straight sets in their second match of the day to Wabash.
Rockford 3, Maranatha Baptist 0
- The Regents started their season with a back and forth points battle with Maranatha to the score of 8-9 in the Regents favor. Rockford started pulling away after this point, slowly building the lead to 20-14. Isaiah Dixon recorded 3 kills to lead the offense.
- MBU rallied for four points but conceded five of the last six to give the Regents their first set win of the season 25-19. Derek Jones and Isaiah Dixon each recorded kills for the final two points of the set.
- RU dominated the start of set two, running up a 7-0 score. Derek Jones highlighted the run with a pair of aces.
- Maranatha got on the board, but the Regents continued to pile on points as the set went on, working the score to 19-9 in Rockford's favor. Isaiah Dixon continued to produce, earning 4 more kills over the course of the run.
- MBU scored three-straight points right after thanks to RU errors, but the Regents took six of the next seven points to close the door on set number two, taking a 2-0 set lead with a score of 25-13. Connor McNear recorded the final two kills for the Regents.
- Maranatha scored the first two points but quickly gave up a massive run to the Regents. Rockford ran up the score to 11-4 behind two aces and a kill by Isaiah Dixon and 3 kills by Connor McNear.
- MBU got within four points but never came any closer, the Regents continued to propel their offense forward. RU ran away with the final set, securing it with a kill from Connor McNear to end the final set 25-15 and win the Regents first match of the season.
Rockford 0, Wabash 3
- Wabash took over the match early with an 8-3 run to open the first set. Rockford pulled within three points shortly after but never came any closer the rest of the set. The Little Giants extended the lead and captured the first set confidently, taking 7 of the last 10 points. Wabash took the first set 25-16.
- Rockford started off behind again 4-2 but worked back to take the lead at 5-4 at the start of the set.
- Wabash quickly captured the lead again, and began running up the score. At 6-7, Wabash went on a 16-4 run over the course of the set, pulling the score to 23-11.
- With the second set firmly in hand, Rockford managed three more points before the Little Giants got the final two points needed to secure the set win 25-14.
- Set number three was a much closer contest to start the set, as neither side could separate from the other trading points back and forth, the score reaching 10-9 in favor of Wabash.
- Wabash began pulling ahead however, building the lead to as much as five points at the 16-11 mark. They continued to hold the lead despite strong efforts from the Rockford offense to cut into the lead and stop the three set sweep.
- Time was not on the Regents side and eventually ran out, with the Regents closing in and down by two, the score was already at 24-22, and the Little Giants got the next point off a service error and took the third and final set 25-22, also earning themselves the win 3-0. Wabash ended the day with two wins while the Regents fell to 1-1.
Rockford 3, Maranatha Baptist 0
- Connor McNear had the team-highs in kills (11) and blocks (4). McNear also broke the school record for hitting percentage, hitting 66.7 percent.
- Isaiah Dixon recorded 11 kills and tied the school record for service aces with 5. Dixon also recorded a team-high 8 digs.
- Josh Albers tallied 31 assists.
- The Regents as a team broke the school record for kills per set (13.33), assists per set (11.33), service aces (11), and service aces per set (3.66),
Rockford 0, Wabash 3
