Spartans Halt Eutectic Streak

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Hoping for a repeat of the five-set upset over the Missouri Baptist University Spartans the last time the two teams met on the UHSP court in Feb. of 2024, the Eutectic men's volleyball team fought for every point in the battle with the Spartans on UHSP soil on Tuesday. This time, however, for their second Heart of America Athletic Conference (HEART) matchup of the season, the No. 4-ranked Spartans (19-4, 12-2 HEART) were able to take down the Eutectics in three close sets: 25-23, 25-23, 25-22. The loss snaps a six-match win streak for the Eutectics on the heels of three UHSP HEART Player of the Week titles in the past two weeks: Grant Hoover – Attacker of the Week (3/10), RJ Dilks – Setter of the Week (3/17), and Xavier Gamayo – Defender of the Week (3/17).

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

• Despite the win snap, it was the seventh match in a row where the Eutectics hit over .200 in attacking, averaging 28% against Missouri Baptist, who recorded an impressive 30.3% against the Eutectics.
• The Eutectics led by as much as four points in each set, but were ultimately chased down by the Spartans, who tied the score at 20 apiece before serving out the finals points to win each set by just two or three points.
• Grant Hoover picked up 12 kills, adding six digs, a block assist, and the team's lone service ace. RJ Dilks recorded 34 assists on the three sets.
• Xander Quenzer notched five kills on six attempts for an attack percentage of .667. Cooper Hansen had nine kills, Cameron Werner recorded seven, and Dickson Colado had five kills on 11 attempts (.455). Colado and David Quinones each had seven digs. Colado and Werner combined for three of the team's five blocks.
• MBU's Veljko Culibrk racked up 19 kills on 33 attempts mostly set up by David Rudic's 41 assists.

NEXT UP:

Now 9-11 overall and 5-8 in the HEART, the UHSP team will travel to University Park, Ill., on Wednesday to take on the Governors State University Jaguars for a non-conference match at 7 p.m. The Eutectics played the Jaguars for the first time back in January on the UHSP court at the HOA Challenge, falling in straight sets.