ONU'S MAGICAL THREE-SET COMEBACK EARNS PLAYOFF BERTH IN THE TIGER'S INAUGURAL SEASON

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University men's volleyball completed the three-set comeback victory over the Trolls of Trinity Christian to reach the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament in their inaugural season. Max Slaughter set a new program record with 21 kills in a single match.

The Trolls claimed the first set leading throughout. Sterling Staranchuk provided a boost for the Tigers out of the gates tallying four kills from eight total attacks. A Collier Kahaku Marquez Service Ace to cut the TCC lead to one, 17-16 out of a timeout. A lengthy volley including a pancake from James Ballance leading to a Trinity error kept the Tigers alive. TCC went on a 5-0 run to end the set and go up 1-0 in the match.

Olivet fell further behind losing the second set 25-16. Kahaku Marquez began to light it up hitting for three kills for the set. ONU suffered from eight errors to TCC's five. The Trolls were solid at the net registering eight total blocks to the Tigers' zero.

With their backs against the wall and season on the line, the Tigers stormed out to a 10-5 lead in the third set. With the score tied up 3-3, ONU went on a 7-2 run to create the separation and force the Trolls to call a timeout. Out of the break, TCC responded with a 6-2 run of their own cutting the lead to just one with the score at 12-11. ONU kept fighting to maintain the lead. Kahaku Marquez services won six of the final seven points down the stretch extended the match with Olivet winning the third set 25-19.

The Tigers kept the momentum and energy going in the fourth set. The home side built a 9-5 lead. A big kill from Staranchuk to bring the score to 12-8 forcing Trinity Christian to call a timeout. The Trolls stormed back conjuring a 6-2 run to take their first lead of the set at 15-14. Out of a Daniel Cabrera called timeout, the Purple and Gold took back the lead at 20-19. Max Slaughter put his mark on the match recording two kills and a block in a 5-1 run to tie up the match 2-2.

The Tigers completed the incredible three-set comeback to extend their season and reach the playoffs. Clawing to victory, the home team had seven digs and seven blocks on their way to a 15-12 set victory.

GAME VITALS

Fist Set: TCC 25, ONU 18 | Second Set: TCC 25, ONU 16 | Third Set: ONU 25, TCC 19 | Fourth Set: ONU 25, TCC 21 | Fifth Set: ONU 15, TCC 12

Records: Olivet Nazarene: 8-22 (6-7 CCAC) | Trinity Christian 17-11 (7-6 CCAC)

Location: McHie Arena | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

QUICK HITS

• The Tigers won the match after losing the first two sets for the second time this season.
• Kahaku Marquez tied a career-best 3 service aces in a single match.
• James Ballance tallied a team-high 14 digs in the match.
• Hunter DeMello doled out a team-high 24 assists.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers will go on the road for the first round of the CCAC tournament as they visit the three-seed Calumet St. Joes next Tuesday. The start of the match is to be determined. Please visit onutigers.com to stay up to date with all the live links.

--ONU—

*Contact: Patrick Kaindl, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, pkaindl@olivet.edu