ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's volleyball team won 3-1 (28-26, 25-17, 20-25, 25-12) against the Simpson College Storm in a Friday night non-conference showdown. Rockford and Simpson battled wire to wire in the first set, but the Regents quickly commanded a two-set lead after handling the Storm in the second set. Simpson was able to take the third set, but Rockford quickly bounced back en route to the victory. The Regents also broke a program record as Rockford's
Danny Karpenko broke the school record for aces with 6. For the match, the Regents put up season-highs in hitting percentage (.271), attacks (129), aces (13), and digs (47) also putting up a season-low in reception errors (5).
- Rockford opened the match with a slight 8-6 lead thanks to back-to-back kills by Isaiah Dixon and Josh Albers.
- Simpson was able to put together an 8-3 run that put them in front 14-11, but Rockford responded with an 8-4 run that put the Regents back in the lead at 19-18.
- The two schools traded points until Simpson sat at set point with a 24-23 lead, but Rockford was able to keep itself alive with a kill from Isaiah Dixon and an ace from Jacob Brewster to put the Regents back ahead 25-24.
- Rockford won three of the next five points, capped off by a Danny Karpenko ace to secure the nail-biting first set 28-26.
- Rockford and Simpson continued to battle to open the second set, with the Regents holding a slight 8-7 lead to begin the set.
- The Regents were able to take control with an 11-6 run that put Rockford ahead 19-13. Joseis Dixon and Danny Karpenko led the charge as Dixon provided two kills and an ace and Karpenko added two aces and a kill during the RU run.
- Rockford eventually closed out the second set 25-17 on back-to-back kills from Isaiah Dixon and Joseis Dixon to go up 2-0 in the match.
- Simpson opened the third set with an 8-2 lead.
- The Regents battled back into the set, but the Storm stayed in front with the set finding its way to a 16-12 Simpson lead.
- Rockford was unable to overcome the hot start by Simpson and the Storm eventually closed out to take the third set 25-20 and make it a 2-1 match.
- The Regents roared out the gates in the fourth set to the tune of a 10-3 lead. Rockford was led by Isaiah Dixon with two kills and an ace during the hot start to the set.
- Rockford road this hot start to the finish line as they handily took the fourth set 25-12, securing the 3-1 match victory.
- Isaiah Dixon provided a team and season-high 15 kills, he also added 6 digs, 1 block and a season-high 5 aces.
- Danny Karpenko delivered a season-high 10 kills on a season-high .421 hitting percentage, 1 block and 1 dig. Karpenko also collected a new career-high and RU program record 6 aces.
- Joseis Dixon put up 9 kills, 3 digs, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 ace
- Tsubasa Namai added a team-high 23 assists and 8 digs.
