TIGERS COME AWAY WITH A WIN OVER PARK-GILBERT, LOSS TO BENEDICTINE MESA IN ARIZONA
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Olivet Nazarene (14-3, 9-1) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
Park- Gilbert (1-9, 1-6) | 15 | 20 | 22 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Olivet Nazarene (15-4, 9-1) | 15 | 12 | 20 | 0 |
|
Benedictine Mesa (AZ) (14-3, 7-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
CHANDLER, Ariz. – The RV Olivet Nazarene University men's volleyball program split the opening games of their day one in Arizona. The Tigers opened the afternoon with a 3-0 sweep against Park-Gilbert (Ariz.) followed by a 3-0 loss at the hands of No. 2 Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.). Jake Ostema totaled 15 kills across both matches to lead the Tigers.
Game 1: RV Olivet Nazarene 3, Park-Gilbert (Ariz.) 0
The Tigers won by way of a three-set sweep for he ninth time this season. They started the opening set fast as Tomas Gonzalez's services led to the freshman setter providing four assists and a service ace to build a 7-2 advantage. ONU never let the Buccaneers within five points of their lead and concluded the set on a 6-1 run. Cade Ooms providing the exclamation point for set-point with a service ace.
Olivet kept their foot on the gas as they led the entire way in the second set. Thoralf Schmelzer was assisted for the set-point kill by Gonzalez as the Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the match. PUG would not go down without a fight as the third set featured the tightest affair in the match. There were 13 ties and eight lead changes. ONU trailed 22-20 before finishing strong with 5-0 run. Jake Ostema provided the service down the stretch and registered his game-high 11th kill and a service ace on the Purple and Yellow-Gold's way to the victory.
Game 2: No. 2 Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) 3, RV Olivet Nazarene 0
ONU was handed their fourth 3-0 loss of the year making up the final match score of all of their losses this season. They were held to a season-low .029 hitting percentage. Cade Ooms tallied a team-high 6.0 points with Kahaku Marquez close behind with 5.5. Marquez led the team in total blocks with four while providing three kills and two digs. Jake Ostema registered the best hitting percentage of the night from any player with five or more attacks. The graduate senior finished at a .667 clip converting four of his six total attacks
WHAT'S NEXT
The Tigers are back in action tomorrow for their last match of the trip with a meeting against Grand Canyon University. You can catch the Tigers on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. CST. You can follow all the action on ONUTigers.com for the live links.
--ONU—
*Contact: Patrick Kaindl, Sports Information Graduate Assistant; email pkaindl@olivet.edu