IRVINE, Calif. - The Concordia University men's volleyball team took care of business in the second game against Jessup with a clean sweep. In the late-night rematch, the Golden Eagles pushed ahead of the Warriors when it mattered most. Concordia claimed victory with the following scores in each set: 26-24, 25-19, and 25-18.
The key offensive players for Concordia were outside hitters Gage Doble and Ties Cornelissen. The dynamic duo both contributed double digits to Concordia's offensive onslaught against the Warriors. Gage Doble led the team in service aces and had a .400 hitting percentage with 10 kills. Cornelissen collected 11 kills, two assists, and five crucial digs over the course of the match.
Setter Colin Marks got in on the action and tallied three kills at the net thanks to his quick reaction time. His aggressive attempts caught Jessup by surprise time and time again. By the end of the match, the sophomore setter's total assists matched his jersey number with 26 overall. Cruse Ae'a was the starting libero for Concordia and contributed six assists and collected three digs in his attempts to keep the ball alive.
The Warriors didn't go down without a fight. In each set, Concordia found itself neck-in-neck with Jessup, before the gap would widen between the two teams. Strong performances from Concordia's front line kept the Warriors in check. Clement Osahon Jr. shut them down with a solo block and four block assists, while Kasey Clouet returned to his role as a middle and tallied three block assists. The middles brought more than just energy to the game, they were the deciding factor in the final set of the match.
In the third set, Jessup and Concordia were at a two-point difference, 18-16. An impressive triple block by Gage Doble, Kasey Clouet, and Marcus Morgan helped bring Connor Orrock to the serving line. Orrock went on to serve for four straight points thanks to Clement Osahon Jr.'s back-to-back blocks and Gage Doble's aggressiveness at the net. Marcus Morgan got an impactful block to make it 24-17 in CUI's favor. On game point, Connor Dell subbed in from the bench and scored the game-winner to secure Concordia's third sweep of the season.
NEXT UP: The Golden Eagles will resume MPSF play on the road for a series with Grand Canyon on Friday, March 14th and 15th.
CLICK HERE to view the FULL Concordia men's volleyball schedule.
