Eutectics Shutout Griffins

CLAYTON, MO. - After a weekend in Tennessee, the Eutectic men's volleyball team only had to travel to the other side of Forest Park on Monday night for a non-conference matchup with the Fontbonne University Griffins (5-13). The UHSP team earned its 16^th win of the season with a straight-set victory over the Griffins: 25-23, 25-14, 25-17.

The Griffins held a small lead for much of the first set. At 9-8, the home team strengthened that lead by winning six of the next seven points off five UHSP errors and a Fontbonne kill, interrupted only once by a single kill from Dickson Colado (assisted by Cole Cwiklowski) to make it 15-9. But, the Eutectics were able to correct their mistakes, putting together a string of kills by Colado (2), Connor Behymer (2), Grant Hoover, and Cwiklowski to tie the score at 18 apiece with a block by Behymer and Cameron Werner. The Griffins fought back, going up 20-18, 22-20, then 23-21 before committing a service error that would put the serve into Colado's capable hands. In one of their most effective rotations, the Purple and Gold responded with three points in a row to win the match 25-23, highlighted by the Conference Setter of the Week Cwiklowski setting up the Conference Attacker of the Week Hoover for two of the final three points.   

Riding the momentum, the Eutectics got out quickly in the second set, going up 5-1, then 8-3. UHSP continued to gain ground as the set continued, winning five points in a row to take a 20-7 lead during Cwiklowski's serve. At 22-9, the Griffins put together four points in a row off a kill and three Eutectic errors. But, the visitors got their act together in the final points to win the set 25-14 on an ace by Cooper Hansen.

The third set was more of a battle from the start until the Eutectics were able to string together four points in a row when Cwiklowski set up Hoover, Behymer, and Marcus Parker for kills and Hoover served up an ace to make it 9-5. From there, the Griffins tried playing catchup, getting within two points at 14-12 and 15-13 off kills from Demitrius Allen. The Eutectic offense was relentless, however, following up with seven kills with only one attacking error to get the set win at 25-17.

As a team, UHSP had 46 kills on 97 attempts with 13 errors for an average of .340 for attacking, while the Griffins hit at .163 in the match. The Eutectic defense also dominated, picking up 37 digs to Fontbonne's 24 and five blocks to FU's three.

Grant Hoover reached double digits in kills with 13, while Marcus Parker knocked down eight kills on 12 attempts with only one error for a .583 attacking percentage. Cole Cwiklowski set up 40 of the Eutectics' 46 kills on the night. Xavier Gamayo dug up 10 attacks and Cameron Werner had four blocks.

The Eutectics now have 16 wins and seven losses so far this season and are 4-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HEART). They will get back on the road and return to Conference play on Tuesday night when they travel to Lamoni, Iowa, looking to take their second win of the season against Graceland University (3-12, 1-8 HEART) at 7 p.m.