(LEBANON, Tenn.) – After losing 3-1 earlier this season to Cumberland University (Tenn.) at home, the Saints returned the favor Tuesday night on the road, handing the Phoenix a 3-1 (25-18, 15-25, 25-18, 25-22) loss. This improves Thomas More to 10-8 overall and 4-3 in the Mid-South Conference.
- Both teams traded points in the first set, with it being locked at 14-14.
- The Saints then used a 3-0 rally to take a crucial 17-14 lead.
- Ben Albers (Delhi, Ohio/Elder) led with a kill to go along with a pair of Phoenix mistakes.
- The Saints would increase their lead to 22-16 and eventually came away with the set win.
- Thomas More hit .500 in the first set.
- The Saints struggled in set two as the Phoenix cruised to a match-tying 25-15 win.
- Thomas More used a momentum-swinging 4-0 run to take an 11-7 lead in the third set.
- They would continue to increase their lead from there as it grew to 18-11.
- Kills from Mason Collver (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville), Dominic Rossi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) and Jonathan Litzler (Edgewood, Ky./St. Henry) would help put the finishing touches on their set victory.
- Neither team could gain momentum in the final set.
- After being tied 19-19, an Albers kill, and a Cumberland error gave Thomas More what turned out to be a set-changing 21-19 lead.
- The Phoenix wouldn't be able to come back, as a Rossi kill ended the match with a 3-1 Saints victory.
- Ten wins are the most in men's volleyball program history.
- Caleb Lipscomb (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills/St. Francis Brooklyn College) had nine total blocks (one solo, eight assisted).
- His eight block assists are second in program history for a single match, while his nine total blocks tied for third in program history in a single match.
- Albers led the way with 12 kills, which is a season-high and the third time he has recorded 11 or more kills in a match this season.
- Conner Young (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) had 22 assists, while Eli Chambers (Eagle Rock, Calif./Eagle Rock/Santa Monica College) dished out a season-high 19 assists.
- This is the seventh match that Young has had 21 or more assists this season.
- Litzler led Thomas More with eight digs.
- Their 21 total block assists as a team are a season high.
The Saints look to pick up another conference win at Midway University Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. They beat the Eagles 3-1 back on February 27th in the Connor Convocation Center.
