Men's Volleyball Goes 1-3 on the Week

This week's action started in the Den of the Moore center on Thursday morning against conference foe Rio Grande. Brescia starts off slow losing the set 25-19, but the Bearcats would turn things around in the second set and win 25-18. With the match tied at 1-1, the Bearcats were in position to try and secure their second win of the program's young first season. Rio Grande jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the third set but after a pearl set from freshman Finn Berger to middle hitter Owen Collitt, the Bearcats would bring the score back to even at 18-18. In the final eight serves of the set, the Bearcats would produce 6 unforced errors and eventually lose set three 25-21.

The fourth and final set of the match saw the Men from Brescia University go on a 10-4 run before the Red Storm of Rio Grande would put together, they're own run pulling to within two points of the Bearcats, making the score 21-19. After a service error and then an attacking error by the Bearcats the score would be tied at 22-22. The set would then continue with an exchange of points until the score was again tied 25-25. With team captain, Meric Akovali, back to serve the Bearcats were looking to extend the match to a 5-set thriller, but the Red Storm had different ideas. With a big sideout and then an error by the Bearcats, they would lose set four and the match 25-27.

"I think this was some growing pains for our young program. We have to learn how to stay in the moment and how to keep playing to win and not start playing to not lose." (Coach Forbes)

The second match of the day was against national powerhouse, Missouri Baptist. The Spartan's from St. Louis, Missouri came into the day's match ranked 12^th in the latest NAIA top 15 poll this week. The Brescia men's volleyball program was not match for the Spartan's and lost their 7^th match of the season 25-17, 25-22, 25-11. "This was a great learning experience for our young program. I have the vision of getting our Bearcats the national tournament and this allowed our team to see what it takes to get there." (Coach Forbes)

Next up for the Bearcats was the Maple Leaf's of Goshen College. Brescia's Men's Volleyball team traveled to Terra Haute, IN to compete in a tri-match with the Maple Leaf's and the Pomeroy's of St. Mary's of the Woods College. BU would start the day of sluggish against Goshen losing the match 25-15, 25-15, 25-16. "I was very upset with our effort and energy, I know this can be a good team when they play together but when they are not all on the same page, this is the results we are going to see!!!" (Coach Forbes)

Now the Bearcats had to regroup and refocus their attention on the Pomeroy's from St. Mary's of the Woods. St. Mary's of the Woods will be a conference opponent next season, so this was important to the growth of the program. The Bearcats would jump out to a quick 13-9 lead before the Pomeroy's put a 5-0 point run of their own together to take the lead for the first time in the match (14-13). As the two team exchanged points the score would be tied still at 28-28 before the Bearcats were able to get back-to-back kills from sophomore transfers Tuna Konukcu and Mustafa Yildiz to win the first set 30-28. In the second set the Bearcats would take an early 3-2 lead and then fall behind by 8-11 until they were able to even the score back up at 18-18. The Pomeroy's would end the set with a 7-4 run and even the match score to 1-1.

The 3^rd set began with the Bearcats taking a 17-13 lead and then extended it to 20-14 and then ending the set with a 5-3 run to capture the match lead back 2-1. In the fourth set the Bearcats would find themselves up 6 early, but the Pomeroy's would not go away quietly without a fight, they (SMOW) would tie the score at 20-20. With the match on the line the Bearcats would out score St. Mary's of the Woods to take the fourth set 25-23 and secure their second win in program history 3-1. "This was a team finally playing together and playing with a purpose. The effort and energy was there, this was a back step in our progress as a program and team." (Coach Forbes)

Next the Brescia men's volleyball team will open conference play with Campbellsville (RV) at home in the Den at the Moore Center. First serve will be at 7:00 p.m. Campbellsville comes into the match with a 6-3 record and was voted to finish 2^nd in the Mid-South conference this season. "This is a big match for us, It will show us where we need to be in order to compete at the highest level in the conference. I am very excited about the opportunity to play Campbellsville and can't wait to see if we show up for the challenge." (Coach Forbes)

The Bearcats are set to take on Campbellsville this Tuesday, Feb. 20, with a start time of 7pm CT at home.