TIGERS CLOSE OUT HOME CONFERENCE SCHEDULE WITH SWEEP OF ROOSEVELT

BOURBONNAIS, IL. – Olivet Nazarene University's men's volleyball team capped off their home conference schedule in style on Thursday night, defeating the Roosevelt Lakers in straight sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-14) on Senior Night.

The opening set was a tense back-and-forth affair. Both teams displayed strong defensive plays, making it difficult for the other to establish a clear advantage, with Roosevelt capitalizing on ONU's early jitters. Brody McAfee (12 kills, 3 assisted blocks) and Jaiton Kamaunu (8 kills, 2 assisted kills) provided consistent scoring for ONU, while Tomas Gonzalez (33 assists) orchestrated the offense with precision. However, the Lakers refused to go down without a fight, matching the Tigers point for point. In the closing moments, three kills by McAfee, a Roosevelt attack error, and a crucial block from Kamaunu propelled ONU to a narrow 25-23 victory.

The momentum shifted decisively in ONU's favor in the second set. The Tigers carried the confidence gained from their first-set win and played with a renewed sense of purpose. The offense continued to click, with McAfee and Kamaunu finding gaps in the Roosevelt defense with consistent kill attempts. The Tigers' serving game also came alive, creating pressure on the Lakers' reception and forcing them into errors. ONU capitalized on these opportunities, building a comfortable lead and cruising to a 25-21 victory in the second set.

The third set was a display of pure dominance by ONU. The Tigers showcased their full potential, leaving no room for doubt. The offense continued to fire on all cylinders, with a well-balanced attack that kept the Roosevelt defense guessing. Defensively, the Tigers were relentless, shutting down any scoring opportunities for the Lakers. This overwhelming display of power resulted in a decisive 25-14 victory, sealing the match win for ONU in straight sets. 

Looking Ahead

The Tigers will hit the road for their final conference matchup of the regular season, facing off against Trinity Christian College on April 9th. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

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