ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's volleyball team fell 3-1 to the Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors Friday night. Despite the score, the match was very tight, and the Rockford offensive attack was churning. Rockford and WLC were also split in most statistical categories, with RU holding the advantage in kills (46-36) and assists (42-33), while the Warriors held the edge in aces (12-5) and digs (50-46). The Regents also put up at least 10 kills in each set, with the highest mark for either team coming in set 1 with 13 kills. This allowed Rockford to slightly take the first set 25-22. WLC and Rockford continued to battle, but unfortunately, the Warriors were able to slightly take the next three sets to take the match from Rockford and walk away with the 3-1 win.
- The Regents rolled out to an 8-2 lead to open the match. Rockford received a kill and an ace from Danny Karpenko, a kill from Isaiah Dixon and Josh Bowling and an ace by Tsubasa Namai to cap things off during the hot start.
- Rockford found its way to a 14-7 lead after back-to-back kills from Nathan Simons and Danny Karpenko.
- The Warriors were able to cut into the Regent lead with an 8-3 run to make it a slight 17-15 lead.
- Rockford responded with a 7-3 run that put the Regents at set point at 24-18. Isaiah Dixon led the way with 2 kills during the run.
- WLC did score the next five points to put pressure on Rockford at 24-23, but the Regents were able to secure the next point to take the first set 25-23.
- The Regents again got out to a lead to begin the set as they held a 6-1 advantage to open the second set.
- WLC responded with a big 12-5 run to take a 13-11 lead, capped off by five straight points from the Warriors.
- After Rockford grabbed the next point, the Warriors then scored seven straight to take a commanding 20-12 lead late in the set.
- The Regents did their best to battle back into the set, getting as close as 23-21, but the WLC lead was too much to overcome as the Warriors were able to eventually hold onto the second set 25-21.
- Both schools traded points to open the third set, with the score finding its way to a slight 12-11 lead for the Regents after an Isaiah Dixon kill.
- Rockford and WLC continued to fight to an 18-17 score, but then the Warriors put together seven straight points to hold a commanding 24-18 lead.
- Again, Rockford threatened to come back, but unfortunately, the Warriors were again able to hold on to take the set 25-21, going up 2-1 in the match in the process.
- Rockford and WLC got out to a 7-7 tie to start the fourth set.
- The Warriors took control with a 9-4 run that gave them a 16-11 lead midway through the set.
- The Regents made it a slight 19-17 WLC lead with a 6-3 run that saw a kill each from Jordan Hurst, Josh Albers and Danny Karpenko.
- Rockford for the third set in a row, threatened late and battled until the end, but it was too late to make a comeback as the Warriors ultimately took the fourth set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
- Isaiah Dixon provided a match-high 13 kills, he also picked up 4 digs and 3 blocks.
- Danny Karpenko tied his season-high with 10 kills. Karpenko also added 2 aces, a match-high 5 blocks and 7 digs.
- Josh Albers had a season-high 28 assists, with 7 digs, 3 kills and a block.
- Josh Bowling added 8 kills, 2 digs and an ace.
