TIGERS FALL 3-1 TO JUDSON IN CCAC TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS

CHICAGO, Ill. – Despite three Tigers with double-digit kills, the Olivet Nazarene University men's volleyball team fell behind early and couldn't come back to fall 25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 25-20 to the Judson Eagles to bow out of the CCAC Tournament in the semifinal round.

The No. 2 Tigers couldn't keep pace in the opening two sets as Judson (21-6), who entered the CCAC Tournament as the three seed, put down 26 kills with just five errors in taking a 2-0 lead.

After never leading over the first two sets, the Tigers quickly took the lead in the third. Kills from Jake Ostema and Thoralf Schmelzer put ONU u early.

Leading 19-18, Cade Ooms hammered down a kill to ignite a three-point run for the Tigers, which was capped off with a block roofed by Ostema and Sterling Staranchuk. The duo then put down a kill each to collect the first set for ONU.

Both squads went point-for-point over the fourth set's first 14 points. The Tigers held a one-point lead until the Eagles rallied off three straight to take control of the set. The game was tied at 13-13, but Judson found the necessary points to take the win, eliminating the Tigers from the CCAC Tournament.

Three Tigers finished with double-digit kills. Schmelzer put down a game-high 14 kills, Ooms had the second-most with 13, while Ostema finished with 10. James Ballance led the defensive effort with 13 digs.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The loss eliminates ONU from the CCAC Tournament. They will have to receive an at-large bid to compete at the NAIA National Tournament, which will be held April 11-15 in Des Moines, Iowa.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu