HONOLULU, HI - The Concordia men's volleyball team faced New Jersey Institute of Technology to wrap up the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Warrior Classic tournament and compete for third place Saturday night. Both teams competed back and forth each set, with the Highlanders coming up on top in a five set thriller. 

Duo Raymond Barsemian and Jordan Hoppe both recorded double digit kills with 20 and 11, respectively. Noah Lassandro would be right behind with six kills, hitting .286. Chandler Gibb had 23 assists, while Isaiah Kaaa delivered 16 assists.

Hunter Howell had a strong night with 7 kills, hitting .308 and six blocks. Coming into the game tonight, Howell needed one solo block in order to break the previous record at Concordia, which he was able to do with a recorded solo block tonight. Howell surpassed alumni, Brett Anema, with 34 solo blocks, while Anema recorded 33 from 2013-2015. 

In the first set, the Eagles and Highlanders would start out going back and forth, both competing to take the lead. The Eagles would force a timeout from the Highlanders after a close 13-11 lead. A couple kills from Jordan Hoppe and Raymond Barsemian would extend their lead 18-13, making it hard for NJIT to come back as the Eagles never let up. The Eagles would win the first set off a service error from NJIT, 25-19.

The second set was no different than the first in the beginning with both teams going back and forth. A couple aces from NJIT would force Concordia to take a timeout at 8-14. The Eagles never let up as a few hitting errors would bring the score closer, having the Highlanders take a timeout with a score 15-18. A kill by Barsemian and an ace by Hoppe, would tie the game up at 22 a piece. The Highlanders were able to finish the game with a block, taking the second set by a close score 23-25.

The Eagles came out strong in the third set, wanting to take that game advantage on the Highlanders. Hunter Howell would get a couple aces to take the first lead of the set for Concordia. The Eagles would continue to fight, not letting the Highlanders go on runs and a kill from Jonathan Carlson would have them taking their first timeout of the set at a score 14-11. Two service errors and two hitting errors would cause NJIT to take their final timeout during this set as Concordia went on a 5-1 run. After the timeout, the Eagles never let off the gas pedal, finishing the set with a dominating score 25-15. 

The fourth set was no different, with the scores alternating throughout the beginning of the set. An ace from Hoppe and a kill by Carlson would have them go on a four point run, until the Highlanders called their first timeout at 13-11. A couple kills from NJIT would shift the momentum for Concordia and would have to take a timeout. The Highlanders would finish this set with two consecutive aces, winning 20-25. 

The Highlanders would force the Eagles to a fifth and final set of the night, taking them to their first five set match of the season. The first 14 points would be alternating between each team, while the Eagles would be forced to take both their timeouts with an 0-5 run and a score 7-12. Concordia could not break their momentum in the end falling short with a final score 8-15. 

The Eagles will play two consecutive games at 6PM and 8PM against Benedictine and Westcliff on Thursday, Jan. 17 to kick off their first two home games of the season. 

For the full Concordia men's volleyball schedule click here.