IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine men's volleyball started its 2023 season on Tuesday night against Keyano College and earned their first sweep despite being shorthanded. The final scores of the sets were 30-28, 25-23, and 25-14 as Concordia fended off the visitors from Canada to secure a victorious home opener.
Freshman
Connor Dell led the Golden Eagles on the right side with 10 kills and five digs throughout the match in his debut. Outside hitters
Slater Fuhrman and
Johnny Anselmo contributed nine kills each while Fuhrman put down four aces that went untouched.
Senior
Gil Herold showed his skills up at the net with six kills and four blocks including one solo. Middle blocker
Viktor Berg out up three blocks and one solo while serving tough behind the line and adding two aces. Setter
Nathan Biteau dished out 31 assists in his first appearance along with two dumps which resulted in kills for CUI. Biteau and libero
Jacob Reilly both had six digs. Every player that was in the starting lineup contributed at least two digs and a block from the front row players.
"They exceeded all kinds of expectations," said CUI assistant coach
Chris Seiffert. "It was a great team win and every single guy in that box and on the bench was engaged for the entire match. I'm proud of them and it was awesome."
The first set was a close battle until the Golden Eagles took a 24-19 lead but the Huskies went on a run and a kill from Dell stopped their run at 24 all. Fuhrman finished off the set with a service ace that trickled over the net. The second set was no different as Keyano was able to keep within distance but the Green and Gold closed it out with a kill from Dell. CUI continued their momentum after the second and put it into the third set and ran with it. Service runs from Fuhrman and Berg extended their lead and closed out the match.
The Golden Eagles will continue their four game homestand next week and play against Vanguard Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. in the CU Arena.
CLICK HERE for the updated CUI men's volleyball schedule
