Pride snap skid with four set win over Graceland

DUBUQUE, Iowa - A quick return to their home floor after hitting the road for their previous match, the Clarke University men's volleyball team was able to win their first match in nearly a month with a 3-1 victory over Graceland University on Friday night in the Kehl Center.

The Pride dropped the first set in extra points, falling 27-25, before going on to win their own extra points set in the second at 28-26 then closing out tight third and fourth sets 25-23 in each to win their first match since also topping these Yellowjackets on their home floor back on Feb. 14.

Getting offensive contributions throughout the lineup, CU's leader in kills came from the middle as Tanner May finished with 13 kills on 22 swings while also adding four block assists for a 15-point night as Dustin Kuner and Eduardo Hernandez both had nine kills, Nolan Amdur added eight kills, Lachlan Donnelly produced seven, and Trey Vescoso would end up spelling Donnelly in the fourth to finish with four kills on five swings to provide a spark in a set that clinched the match for the home team.

Also providing a spark was the insertion of libero Kevin Suarez, who didn't see the floor in the first but performed as the primary libero in the second, third, and fourth set to have a 10-dig match while adding two assists with setter Benjamin Reiser producing a 42-assist, 13-dig double-double for the first double-double of his junior season.

For the Yellowjackets, three players finished in double figures for kills as the pair of Kalanikapu Aona and Andrew Cziep had 12 kills while Hawk Richard added 10 kills and 10 digs for a double-double of his own and Nick English had an eight-kill night.

Clarke men's volleyball will hit the road for a pair of non-conference matches in La Crosse, Wis. on Saturday afternoon when they face Saint Xavier University in a non-conference match at 2:30 p.m. CT before facing host Viterbo in a rematch of CU's season opener at 5:00 p.m. CT.