Week of Practice Pays off for Unranked Yellowjackets

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February 9, 2008 | Box Score

QUINCY, IL- After postponing Tuesday’s match vs the #2 Park University Pirates due to weather, the Graceland Men’s Volleyball team hit the road to face NCAA Division II Quincy University. The Yellowjackets (1-6: 0-0 MAMVIC WEST) defeated the Hawks (9-10: 0-6 MIVA) in a five-game thriller winning 30-28, 22-30, 30-28, 28-30, 16-14.

Game 1 began with what Coach McDole described as “a serving error war”. Both teams combined for a total of 21 service errors in the first set. However, despite the battle to serve in the court, consistent passing from the Yellowjackets combined with solid swinging gave Graceland a 24-21 lead. Junior outside hitter Kevin Allison strong serving brought the Yellowjackets closer to the mark giving them a 28-25 advantage until a server receive kill from Junior middle hitter Joe Klein won the game 30-28.

The Hawks jumped to an early 8-2 lead in Game 2 until Senior setter Ainoa Miyashiro’s serving and stingy defense by the team gave Graceland the edge 13-12 near the midpoint of the set. However, tough Quincy serving gave the Hawks the lead 25-17 and closed out the second game defeating the Yellowjackets 30-22.

Inconsistency did not frustrate the Yellowjackets who came out strong in Game 3 to compete in a neck and neck battle for position taking the advantage 11-9 after inspired team play. The Hawks kept the game close. Tied at 20-20, the Yellowjackets shot ahead to a 26-24 mark after a Klein solo block and an Allison service ace, only to allow the Hawks to tie it again at 27. Freshman outside hitter Josh Walters served the Yellowjackets to game point and Graceland sealed a Game 3 victory 30-28 following a Quincy service error.

Falling behind early in Game 4, Graceland struggled to take control of the set, as well as the Hawks. Freshmen middle hitter Calsen Agrade put Graaceland on top 15-13 with a service ace and Walters tallied his first ace of the match giving Graceland a 18-15 advantage several plays later. With Quincy leading 25-23, Walters’ second ace of the set and match tied the match at 25 but the Yellowjackets ended up falling 28-30.

With the match tied at 2 games apiece, sophomore outside hitter started Game 5 with a service ace. 2 transition kills from Klein evened the Yellowjackets at 4-4. However, the Yellowjackets fell behind quickly with a score of 8-5 in favor of the Hawks at the switch. Miyashiro capped a 3-0 Yellowjacket run with a solo block but tough serving from the Hawks brought Quincy within match point leading 14-12 over the Yellowjackets.

In what appeared to be Graceland’s last stand, Walters headed to the service line following a Yellowjacket side out. After a clutch serve from Walters, Parish and Klein provided the support with a solid wall at the net. A Quincy hitting error helped the Yellowjackets to a 15-14 advantage. Coming from behind with their backs to the wall proved to be no challenge for the Yellowjackets who got their first win of the season after a Walters serve trickled off the net, hitting the floor for his third ace of the match.

“That was fun,” the Yellowjackets’ trainer Toch Lel said. “What a way to end the game.” Despite being outscored 126-130, Graceland found ways to be successful on the court. “I was proud of the way we finished the match. We finished with intensity and put up a good block, which we’ve been practicing all week,” McDole said. “I was disappointed with our ball control. We made it really difficult for Ainoa to get us in system. On a positive note we know how it feels to win.”

Graceland hit below their season average with a .185 team efficiency, however, they put up their season best 2.6 blocks per game along with a much improved 10.4 digs per game average. “It was great to see our name in the win column. We played good. We played excellent. We came out in the end. I thought Carlos did a great job,” Freshmen defensive specialist Rollin Olaso said.

Offensively, Klein led the Yellowjackets in their winning efforts (17 kills 9 errors 35 attempts, .229 efficiency). Parish hit a team-high .310 with Agrade close behind at .278. Allison and Parish provide 12 digs each in the Yellowjackets’ strongest defensive effort of the year. Klein was the backbone of Graceland’s blocking game totaling 3 solo blocks and 4 block assists for a 1.4 blocks per game average.

“We did well. I am so proud of the effort shown by the team,” Miyashiro said. “After being off a week I thought it might be difficult to get back into a rhythm but we pulled out with a win and I look forward to our next game against Clarke.”

The Yellowjackets next match is against the Crusaders of Clarke College next Saturday February 16th in Lamoni, IA at 7 pm.