ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's volleyball team lost 3-1 at home Saturday afternoon to the Fonbonne University Griffins. The Regents got out to a tough start, dropping the first two sets 25-17 and 25-22. Rockford was able to turn things around, taking the third set 25-21 and had a 19-16 lead in the fourth set, trying to force a fifth set and keep the comeback hopes alive. However, Fontbonne was able to retake control and steal the fourth set from the Regents, walking away with a 3-1 match win.
- Fontbonne got out to a hot start in the first set, going up 7-2 to get things going.
- The Regents battled back to a 10-7 deficit with 2 kills from Connor McNear and 1 coming from Isaiah Dixon.
- This was as close as Rockford was able to get to Fontbonne in this first set, as the Griffins took control of the set and finished off the Regents 25-17 to go up 1-0 in the match.
- The Regents were able to start out with a 6-3 lead with the help of Isaiah Dixon's 3 kills to get things going for Rockford.
- The Griffins went on a 7-1 run after this and were able to take a 10-7 lead.
- Rockford was able to keep it close, finding its way to a 21-18 deficit after a kill by Nathan Simons, but the Regents were never able to make up the ground and Fontbonne took the second set 25-22 and go up 2-0.
- Rockford again got out to a 6-3 lead to start this set after multiple errors from the Griffins.
- Fontbonne quickly tied it up 6-6, but after 4 straight attacking errors by the Griffins, the Regents took the lead right back 10-6.
- The Griffins battled back to a 20-20 score, but Rockford was able to score the next 5 of 6 points thanks to 2 kills by Nathan Vana, 1 by Josh Albers and a block by Connor Mcnear to take the third set 25-21 and make it a 2-1 match.
- For the third straight set, Rockford got out to a 6-3 lead, after a quick 5-1 run with an Ace by Danny Karpenko.
- Rockford held the lead for a majority of the fourth set and found its way to a 19-16 lead, but the Griffins were able to score the next 6 points and take a commanding 22-19 lead and never looked back, taking the final set 25-21 and winning the match 3-1.
- Isaiah Dixon had 13 kills, 1 off his season-high, also picked up a season-high 17 digs and recording 5 total blocks.
- Connor Mcnear added 11 kills, on a .588 hitting percentage and 4 total blocks
- Josh Albers delivered a season-high 31 assists and picked up 8 digs.
