LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After a home game against No. 2 BYU, the Concordia men's volleyball team went to Los Angeles to start a three game series against USC. The Eagles were able to defeat the Trojans in another exhilarating five set match-up with scores 18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 19-25, and 15-9.
 
Middles Jesper Schut and Gil Herold had another great night. Schut went 4-for-6 with no errors hitting a .667 while Herold went 8-for-16 and a .438 hitting percentage. Raymond Barsemian had a season high of 23 kills with Jordan Hoppe collecting 11 kills on the night for the Eagles. Hoppe continued behind the end line with two aces and four blocks. Addison Enriques set a season high best with 12 digs with McLain Mott dishing out 40 assists and nine digs.
 
After the Eagles fell in the first set, they were looking to come back and challenge the Trojans in the second set. They did just that with Herold starting the green and gold off with a solo block for the first point. Owen Chun and Erik Boisvert entered the game and made an impact for the Eagles in different ways. Chun and Boisvert set up at the net defensively with a straight down block to tie the game at 11 a piece. Boisvert when on a five-point service run and another block from Chun and Hoppe force the Trojans to take a timeout with a 15-13 lead. CUI did not allow USC to get back in after taking a lead and two consecutive kills from Hoppe ended the set.
 
"The team dynamic was flowing as we were playing our best brand of volleyball and doing the little things on the court that made the team come together. Once we get our brand of volleyball playing we play at a high clip," said outside hitter Jordan Hoppe. "If we are able to bring this consistent high team energy we will be right there towards the playoffs."
 
The third set continued to go back-and-forth with a close score. Setter Blake Omartian came into the game to serve and did just that with an ace to bring the Eagles up by one. A few errors from the Trojans gave the Eagles some easy points to work off from and was able to close out the set by a close 25-23.
 
USC came out on top in the fourth set, not allowing CUI to go on more than a three-point run. In the deciding fifth set, the Eagles took control of the match and ran with it until the end. Jonathan Carlson went on a service run with kills from Barsemian and Hoppe along with a couple errors from the Trojans to take a 9-7 lead. Hoppe turned in another dominant night from the back line as he finished off the final set for the Eagles and a couple kills from Barsemian.
 
"Great team win tonight! We really supported each other and all of our subs really upgraded the play," added head coach Shawn Patchell. "This was a gritty effort and our setter [McLain Mott] really set a consistent offense that got better after a slow start."
 
The Eagles are now 2-6 in the MPSF conference and will continue the series against USC in the CU Arena on Thursday, Mar. 11 at 7 p.m.
 
To see the full CUI men's volleyball schedule, CLICK HERE.
 
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