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Eutectics Upset #7-Mustangs in Five-Set Thriller
Posted: Mar 08, 2025

Eutectics Upset #7-Mustangs in Five-Set Thriller

ST. LOUIS, MO. – The Eutectic men's volleyball team swept the weekend Heart of America Athletic Conference (HEART) matches, following up Friday's dominant straight-set win over Clarke with a huge five-set upset on Saturday over No.7-ranked Mount Mercy University (Iowa), winning 25-19, 28-30, 26-24, 18-25, 16-14 much to the delight of family attending for the team's Parents Weekend. The MMU Mustangs (13-3, 8-2) came in on a high note, pulling off their own five-set upset at No. 4-ranked Missouri Baptist University on Friday.

MATCH HIGHTLIGHTS:

  • For the second night in a row, Grant Hoover packed a punch behind his attacks, tallying a season-high 24 kills (one less than his own school record) on a school-record-tying 52 attempts (Chris Moore in 2023). Hoover also racked up 10 digs and five block assists.
  • Setter RJ Dilks put up a career-high 59 assists in the match, just one behind the school record by Cole Cwiklowski), setting up the Eutectics to tie another record for Team Kills at 64.
  • Cameron Werner hit a career-high 13 kills on 21 attempts for 42.9%. Werner led the team with seven block assists.
  • Libero Xavier Gamayo was acrobatic in his defense, anticipating each Mustang attack and picking up 19 total digs (his second-highest career tally) to keep the Eutectics alive in each set.    
  • The Eutectics started off the day hitting 42.9% as a team to win the first set outright at 25-19, while holding the MMU offense to 20.9%.
  • The Mustangs, however, regrouped in the second set, notching 21 kills in 46 attempts. The Eutectics fought off several set-points, but eventually succumbed to the Mustangs at 30-28.   
  • The Eutectics fought to earn the lead early in the third set, buoyed by big hits from Hoover, but the Mustangs crept back to tie the match at 19 and would not allow two points in a row from UHSP. Tied at 24, the Eutectics were finally able to claim the set after putting together a kill from Hoover (assisted by Dilks) followed by an ace from Werner.
  • MMU regained the momentum in the fourth set, taking a sizable lead early (14-8) and maintaining it through, finishing the set with 39.1 attacking percentage and putting up six blocks to limit the UHSP offense. The Mustangs won the set at 25-18 to force the shortened deciding set.
  • It was the final set that really showed the Eutectic heart. After falling behind 4-2, the Purple and Gold strung together four points in a row, including two Hoover kills and a block from Dickson Colado and Werner, to take the lead at 6-4. The Euts maintained a slight lead until the Mustangs were able to tie the score at 13 apiece. At 14-14, an MMU service error gave UHSP the set point, which they converted to the win when Cooper Hansen pounded down the kill off an assist from Quenzer for the 16-14 set and match win.
  • The match was similar to the last time the two teams faced each other in April of 2024, with the Eutectics winning in five sets. The Eutectics now hold a 2-7 series record against the Mustangs.

NEXT UP:

The Eutectics are now 5-10 overall and 3-7 in the HEART. They will continue with Conference competition when they play host to Culver-Stockton College (Mo.)(1-16, 0-7 HEART) on Tuesday, Mar. 11 at 7 p.m.