PARKVILLE, Mo. – The Ottawa University men's volleyball team fell 3-2 to Westcliff University and 3-1 to the University of Rio Grande on Friday at the Pirate Invitational. Ottawa set a new school record in team blocks with 19 and
Akeil Williams set a new school record for blocks in a single match with 12 against Westcliff. Williams also recorded the program's third triple-double.
Westcliff University | L, 3-2
How it Happened
- Westcliff took an 8-3 lead over the Braves in set one. Ottawa rallied and after kills by Nazmi Bayoglu and Akeil Williams, OU lead 18-17. The Warriors responded with a 5-2 run and led 22-19. Ottawa answered by scoring the next three points, tying the set at 22 all on a Grant Younie kill. Westcliff, however, was able to score the next three points to take the set 25-22.
- The Warriors dominated set two, jumping out to a 7-1 lead. Ottawa was not able to recover from its slow start and Westcliff took the 25-15 victory.
- In set three, with Ottawa trailing 17-14, the Braves scored seven straight points to take a 21-17 lead. Westcliff did not go away and rallied to get within one point, 22-21. Kills by Bayoglu and Francis Rivera gave the Braves a 24-21 lead. The Warrior rallied and tied the set, 26-26. Ottawa was able to close out the set by scoring the final two points, 28-26.
- Ottawa took the early 6-2 lead over Westcliff in set four. A kill by Bayoglu pushed the OU lead to 12-8. The Warriors hung around and rallied to take a 22-21 lead over the Braves. Ottawa tied the set on a WU attacking error, 22-22 and then retook the lead on a Younie and Morris block, 23-22. The two teams exchanged points with Westcliff tying the set at 25 all. The Braves took the lead once more on a kill by Max Baumann, 26-25. Ottawa won the set on the next point, a Warrior attacking error, 27-25.
- Westcliff had the early 5-4 lead over the Braves in set five. Ottawa scored the next three points, taking a 7-5 lead on a Baumann service ace. The Warriors rallied and tied the set at 11. OU broke the tie with a kill by Morris, 12-11 and a Bayoglu service ace gave OU a 13-11 lead. Westcliff answered by scoring the next two points, tying the set at 13 all. The teams exchanged points once more and after a Williams kill, the set was tied 15-15. This time, however, Ottawa was not able to close out the set. Westcliff scored the final two points of set no. five, taking the 17-15 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa finished the match with 50 kills, a .118 attacking percentage, 47 assists, seven service aces, 68 digs, and school record 19 team blocks.
- Nazmi Bayoglu led the Braves with 12 kills.
- Akeil Williams finished with the program's third triple double. He had 11 kills, 12 digs, and 12 blocks. His 12 blocks set a new school record for single match blocks.
- Kade Zrna finished with 24 assists and Andrew Salinas had 16 assists.
- Max Baumann had three service aces and led OU with 15 digs.
University of Rio Grande | L, 3-1
How it Happened
- Ottawa had the early lead in set no. 1. Rio Grande chipped away at the deficit and took 9-7 lead over the Braves. OU scored the next five points and led 12-9. The Red Storm responded with a 6-1 run to take a 15-13 lead over the Braves. Ottawa retook the lead and after a Nazmi Bayoglu kill, OU led 16-15. The teams exchanged points and the set was tied 20-20. The Braves were able to put together a 4-0 run, taking a 24-20 lead on a Rio Grande attacking error. The Red Storm tried to rally, scoring two straight points to cut OU's lead to 24-22. The Braves were able to close out the set on a Kadeem Morris kill, taking the 25-22 victory.
- Rio Grande opened set two with a 7-2 lead over OU. The Red Storm were able to increase its lead to 10 points, 15-5. The Braves did not go away and were able to get within 24-23 after an Akeil Williams' block. After a Red Storm time out, Rio Grande was able to close out the set on the next point to take the 25-23 victory.
- With set three tied at 12, the Red Storm scored the next five points to take a 17-12 lead. Ottawa answered with four straight points to get within 17-16. Rio Grande scored the next three points, increasing its lead to 20-16. The Braves did not give up and rallied to get within 24-23. The Red Storm were able to end the set on the next point and won the set 25-23.
- The lead went back and forth in set four with Rio Grande having the edge, 9-8. The Red Storm were able to put some distance between themselves and the Braves, taking a 17-11 lead. Ottawa was not able to rally and Rio Grande took the 25-18 victory.
Inside the Box Score
Who is Next
Ottawa (0-2) will compete in the final day of the Pirate Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 27. OU will play Missouri S&T at 12:00 p.m. and Brescia University at 4:00 p.m. in Parkville, Mo.
