IRVINE, Calif. – CUI men's volleyball hosted Saint Xavier in their home opener for the start of the 2022 season Tuesday night. In the program's first game under new head coach and former Olympian Riley Salmon, the Eagles defeated the Cougars in four sets with scores 25-21, 19-25, 25-19, and 25-22.
 
Outside hitter Jonathan Carlson led the Eagles with 13 kills, seven digs and added four blocks that came in critical moments. Senior Logan Glave also contributed from the back with nine digs and chimed in with eight kills.
 
Newcomer and Panama native Uriel Batista slammed 11 kills and scooped up six digs. Owen Chun came into the game and made an immediate impact for the Eagles with three kills and two huge blocks including one solo.
 
Freshman Danny Smithers started in the libero slot and dug up six while fellow first-year setter Makai Lipson dished out 39 assists in just four sets. It was an impressive debut for both in their first games wearing the Green and Gold.
 
Middle blockers Gil Herold and Mason Mullins had an impressive night up at the net both contributing a solo block. Herold finished the match with nine kills and a hitting percentage of .421 while Mullins had six kills hitting above .350 and collected a team high of five blocks.
 
Sets one and three tallied back and forth between both teams for the majority of the time until Glave went to the back line to extend the Eagles lead and ultimately finish the sets with Cougar errors. CUI didn't look back in the fourth set and took the lead and rolled with it until the end.
 
The Eagles will be back on the court Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. against Saint Katherine in the CU Arena.
 
**To see the updated spectator policy click HERE**
 
To see the full CUI men's volleyball schedule click HERE.