COSTA MESA, Calif. – The CUI men's volleyball team closed out the four game series against Vanguard in exciting fashion Saturday night going the distance in a five set thriller. The Golden Eagles were able to secure their third consecutive MPSF win with scores 11-25, 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, and 15-8.
Connor Dell was unstoppable at the net as he recorded a new career high of kills topping his previous 12 kills that was at Grand Canyon. Dell was able to hit an impressive .340 and had nine digs and three aces from the back line.
Outside hitter
Gage Doble had a double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs from the back row. This marks his fourth consecutive game with double digit kills all against Vanguard.
Makua Marumoto was lights out from the service line as he served up a career high of five aces at CUI. Marumoto added 10 kills offensively and nine digs.
Nathan Habermas finished with six kills and four block assists while
Cole Wachter had two kills and block assists.
Makai Lipson ran the offense for the Green and Gold and dished out 39 assists while serving two aces and seven digs from right back.
Cruse Ae'a was in the libero jersey and had seven digs throughout the match.
The Golden Eagles had a slow start dropping the first set but then bounced back in the second to take an early lead thanks to Marumoto serving up two aces extending their lead and the Lions missed their serve on set point to tie the game at one a-piece. In the third CUI went on a few little runs to help distance themselves from Vanguard and two kills from Dell helped win the third.
The Lions answered back in the fourth going on a five point run early which made it difficult for CUI to come back from ultimately forcing a fifth set. The fifth was close to start but the Golden Eagles had the slight edge with 8-6 at the side switch. CUI offense was on a roll with three different players getting a kill taking an even larger lead and a hitting error from the Lions sealed the win for the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles will have their last conference series against Menlo College starting Friday Apr. 4 and Saturday Apr. 5 on the road in Atherton, Calif. with 7 p.m. start times. CUI will close out the series back in the CU Arena with back-to-back days again Friday Apr. 18 and Saturday Apr. 19 both slated for a 7 p.m. start time.
Click here to see the full CUI men's volleyball schedule.
