FRANKLIN, Ind. -- The Rockford University men's volleyball team lost its second match of the Franklin Triangular to non-conference opponent Franklin College, 3-0, on Saturday. Set scores were 29-27, 25-17, 25-21.Â
Joseis Dixon,
Jordan Hurst, and
Ethan Pedroza all planted six kills.
PJ Peden made 13 assists while
Jacob Brewster was one back with 12. Pedroza smashed two aces.
Nathan Simons totaled 11 digs, and
Josh Bowling led Rockford with three blocks.Â
A series of miscues from Franklin put Rockford up 4-2 early in the first set. Dixon put together the first two kills of the set as the Regents still held on to a 6-4 lead and then proceeded to go on a 6-2 run with kills from Pedroza and Bowling during that stretch as the Grizzlies made more errors, committing four during that stretch. The Regent lead remained at six until four consecutive kills from Franklin pulled the Grizzlies within two, trailing 20-18. The Regents then responded with a 3-0 run with two more errors from Franklin and a kill from Pedroza. Franklin then responded again with a 6-0 run to take a 24-23 lead, which was the first lead of the set for the Grizzlies. From there, it was back-and-forth until an attack error from Rockford, trailing 28-27, allowed Franklin to go up 1-0.Â
It was a slow start for the Regents in the second set, as they trailed 7-2, but followed it up with an 8-3 run to tie the set at 10. Unfortunately for the Regents, Franklin pulled away, going on a 6-0 run late in the set to go up eight, 24-16, and made a kill to win the set.Â
Franklin once again grabbed a large lead early, jumping out to a 15-8 advantage and was unable to flip the momentum until five errors from the Grizzlies, along with a kill from Pedroza gave Rockford its first lead of the third set, taking an 18-17 lead, which was the first lead for the Regents when they had a 3-2 lead. Kills from Simons and Dixon extended the Regent lead to two, to take a 20-18 lead. However, another late rally from Franklin allowed the Grizzlies to complete the sweep when they went on a 7-1 run.Â
The Regents will return to action on Wednesday, April 1, when they will travel to NACC conference opponent Concordia University of Wisconsin at 7 p.m. CDT.Â
