Eutectics Force Extra Points and Set, but Cannot Overcome Phoenix

ST. LOUIS, MO. – After more than two weeks on the road, the Eutectic men's volleyball team returned home on Tuesday night to host a non-conference matchup with the Cumberland University Phoenix (9-2) from Lebanon, Tenn. The Eutectics challenged the Phoenix, forcing extra points and pulling out one set, but ultimately came away with a loss: 25-23, 27-29, 25-15, 27-25.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Phoenix pulled ahead early in the first set, but the Eutectics began to reel them in as the set progressed. A kill from Dickson Colado (assisted by RJ Dilks) tied the score at 22 apiece, but the UHSP team could not overcome the visitors, dropping the set at 25-23.
• In the second set, it was the Purple and Gold who took the early lead as the Phoenix played catchup. CU tied the score at 15, and the two teams battled for each point that followed, with neither team able to clinch a two-point lead to finish the set at 25. The Euts down 27-26 when Back-to-back kills from Grant Hoover preceded a final kill from Cooper Hansen (all from Dilks) to earn three points in a row and win the set at 29-27.
• The Phoenix returned to the court in the third set with renewed vigor, taking a significant lead before the Eutectics could recover and respond. The set went quickly, in favor of CU, who won 25-15.
• The fourth set was tight from the start, with eight tie scores before either team scored 10 points. Down 12-10, a kill by Hansen earned the serve for UHSP's David Quinones, who served up six points in a row off four Hoover kills in a row, a CU error, and a kill from Colado to put the Eutectics up 17-12. The Phoenix took a timeout and returned to pressure the Eutectics, gaining momentum as the points added up. They fended off set-point at 24-22, then won the next two to earn their own set (and match) point at 25-24 only to err on the serve to tie it at 25. But CU's Kaden Kuehler followed up with two kills on the next two serves to win the set for Cumberland at 27-25 and secure the match.
• Grant Hoover notched 22 kills on 57 attempts for 26.3 attacking percentage on offense, and tallied two solo blocks and two block assists. RJ Dilks recorded 47 assists in the match. And, David Quinones racked up 20 digs for the Eutectics.
• CU's Kaden Kuehler averaged 72.2% for attacking percentage with 13 kills on 18 attempts.

NEXT UP:

The Eutectics, now 3-10 overall (1-7 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference), will next host two Conference matches this weekend. On Friday, UHSP will face Clarke University (Iowa) at 7 p.m. before hosting Mount Mercy University (Iowa) on Saturday at 2 p.m.