ONU FALLS SHORT AT HOME AGAINST CRIMSON WAVE

BOURBONNAIS, IL. – Olivet Nazarene University's men's volleyball team was unable to secure a victory on Tuesday night, falling to the visiting Calumet St. Joseph Crimson Wave in a four-set battle (25-19, 25-21, 25-16, 25-23). 

The opening set saw Calumet establish control early. Their offense flowed smoothly, exploiting weaknesses in the ONU defense. The Tigers struggled to find their rhythm, committing uncharacteristic errors that allowed the Crimson Wave to build a comfortable lead. Despite a late surge from ONU, the deficit proved too much to overcome, and Calumet secured the first set 25-19. 

However, ONU refused to be discouraged. The second set saw a renewed focus from the Tigers. Outside hitters Brody McAfee (14 kills, 2 assisted blocks) and Jaiton Kamaunu (8 kills) found their groove offensively, delivering a series of powerful kills. The ONU defense, anchored by middle blocker Sterling Staranchuk (3 kills, 3 assisted blocks), tightened up at the net, forcing Calumet into errors. This collective effort propelled the Tigers to a hard-fought 25-21 victory in the second set, evening the score at 1-1.

Unfortunately, the momentum shifted back in Calumet's favor in the third set. The Crimson Wave dominated at the net, exploiting weaknesses in the ONU block. The Tigers struggled to generate any consistent offense, ultimately dropping the set decisively by a score of 25-16.

ONU displayed admirable resilience in the fourth set. They battled back from an early deficit and even managed to take a brief lead. The score remained tightly contested throughout, showcasing impressive displays of athleticism from both teams. However, crucial errors at inopportune moments proved costly for the Tigers. Calumet capitalized on these mistakes, edging out ONU 25-23 in the fourth set to secure the match victory.

Looking Ahead

ONU will have a chance to close out their home conference schedule on a high note when they host the Roosevelt University Lakers on April 4th. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

*Contact Anyssa Hampton, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, ahampton@olivet.edu