CHICAGO–The North Park University men's volleyball dropped a pair of matches at the first annual NPU Triangular Invitational inside the North Park Gym on Saturday.
The Vikings fell to the Robert Morris University (Ill.) Eagles in straight sets (14-25, 14-25, 19-25) and fell to the Olivet College Comets 3-1 (20-25, 17-25, 25-23, 18-25).
First Match: Robert Morris 3 North Park 0
The Eagles and Vikings started the first set going back-and fourth trading the first 10 points. During that stretch, the Vikings saw kills from junior Frank Mauigoa, freshman Jackson Goo, and freshman Arthur Barczak. The Eagles took over scoring 10 of the next 13 points and were up 15-9. The Vikings were only able to muster five more points and dropped the first set 25-14.
Just like the first set, the Vikings and Eagles traded the first 10 points, in the second set, taking advantage of four Eagle errors. The Eagles scored 9 of the next 15 points and took a 14-9 lead. The Eagles pushed across nine more points including marking the last four and defeated the Vikings 25-14.
In the third set, the Eagles took the first 6 of 10 points. During that run, senior Gab Eballar grabbed a service ace. The Vikings and Eagles traded the next 10 points spotlighted by two kills by freshman Daniel Porche.
The Vikings made a valiant comeback down the stretch cutting the Eagle lead to 22-19. However, Robert Morris tallied three straight points and defeated North Park 25-19.
Quick Hits:
- Mauigoa led the Vikings with seven kills
- Porche followed close behind with four kills
- Freshman setter Moises Zavala led the Vikings with 15 assists.
Second Match: Olivet 3 North Park 1
Olivet took over at the beginning of the first set marking 11 of the first 13 points. The Vikings struck back with 6 of the next 10 points by blocks from Zavala and Goo. The Vikings paced the Comets the rest of the way, but the Comets took the first set 25-20.
Olivet scored the first eight points of the second set until Porche recorded a kill to breakup the run. Later in the set, when the Vikings were behind 22-9, a kill by Mauigoa started a four point rally making the score 22-13 Comets. The Vikings' comeback fell short when the Comets notched two more points and took the set 25-17.
In the third set, The Comets marked 9 of the first 13 points including marking 4 straight points. With Olivet leading 12-7, The Vikings rattled off four straight points of their own highlighted by a kill by Mauigoa making the score 12-11 Vikings. After the Vikings took the 15-14 lead, Olivet scored three straight points making the score 17-15. The Vikings marked 10 points to the Comets' 7 points and took the third set 25-23.
The fourth set started by Olivet outscoring North Park six to four. The Vikings captured only 4 points of the next 10 and were behind 12-8.
The Vikings made a comeback of scoring 5 of the last 10 points but ultimately fell in the fourth set 25-18.
Quick Hits:
- Porche led the Vikings with 11 kills and Mauigoa followed with 9.
- Eballar led the Vikings with four aces.
- Goo led the Vikings with four blocks.
- Zavala led the Vikings with 30 assists.
What's Next?
North Park (3-11) conclude its homestand with a match with in-city familiar Concordia University in Chicago on Wednesday, February 27 at 7 p.m. inside the North Park Gym.
–NPU–
