Pride third set rally not enough in 3-1 loss to UHSP

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Beginning their final weekend of the 2024 regular season, the Clarke University men's volleyball team dropped their Friday night home match to University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy 3-1.

Able to rally back from triple match point in the third set to win 26-24, the Pride couldn't push that momentum in the fourth after already dropping the first two sets as UHSP would win the match 25-19, 25-22, 24-26, and 25-17.

The Eutectics were extremely efficient in their three set wins with the lowest team hitting percentage finishing at .321 in the first set as a rough 14-error third set was partially what aided CU's comeback third set as UHSP would finish with 51 kills to 37 for the Pride but errors would finish 25-24 in favor of the Eutectics for hitting percentage also to favor UHSP AT .260 to .107.

Three members of UHSP's attack finished with double digit kills led by 13 from Grant Hoover while Cooper Hansen and Dickson Colado had 11 and 10 respectively as Hansen had a .400 hitting percentage and Colado finished with 10 digs for a double-double.

On Clarke's side, Stephen Lewandowski would finish with the highest-scoring night for CU as he would have five kills on 10 swings with only one error while adding eight total blocks with seven block assists and a solo for a 10.5-point match.

Benen Flores would led the team in kills with a .333 hitting percentage as Anthony Ramirez was the next-most efficient member of the Pride at a .250 hitting percentage on four kills.

Clarke men's volleyball will close out 2024 with Senior Day on Saturday afternoon when they host Missouri Baptist University for a 2:00 p.m. CT scheduled first serve against the Spartans.