Yellowjackets Drop Three-Set Match at Dordt, Remain Winless in Conference Play
The Graceland University men's volleyball team fell in straight sets to Dordt University on Tuesday evening, 25-18, 25-9, 25-17, at De Witt Gymnasium in Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) play.
With the loss, Graceland dropped to 2-16 overall and 0-11 in the Heart, while Dordt improved to 12-9 overall and 6-8 in conference play.
The Yellowjackets managed a .083 team hitting percentage with 17 total kills on 72 attack attempts. Sophomore Elijah Kline led Graceland with six kills on 26 attempts and added one service ace for a team-high seven points. Setter Christopher Sawyer contributed 15 assists and recorded one ace, one kill, and seven digs. Andrew Youssef finished with five kills and a .125 hitting percentage.
Dordt, meanwhile, posted a .330 team hitting percentage with 43 kills on 94 attempts and just 12 errors. The Defenders were led by Diego Santiago, who tallied 10 kills and two service aces. Lance Vermeer and Kai Chapman added nine kills apiece, each hitting above .650. Dordt setter Lukas Van Groningen directed the offense with 40 assists and chipped in three aces and three total points.
Graceland stayed close early in the first set, trailing just 9-6 following a brief scoring run sparked by a Kline kill and a Sawyer ace. However, back-to-back aces by Santiago and a five-point swing from the service line extended Dordt's lead to 14-6. The Defenders maintained control the rest of the way, closing the set 25-18 after a kill from Vermeer.
In the second frame, Dordt broke open the match with a dominant offensive showing, recording 13 kills on 26 attempts and a .385 set percentage. Graceland committed six attack errors and finished with just five kills. The Yellowjackets fell behind early after consecutive aces by Andres Guzman and Kai Chapman, and were unable to recover after Dordt's 10-2 start. The Defenders closed the set 25-9 on a kill by Nicodemus Elliott.
The Yellowjackets showed more offensive fluidity in the third, hitting .200 with eight kills. Graceland tied the set at 9-9 following a block assist from Kalanikapu Aona and Andrew Cziep, and a kill from Kline. However, Dordt countered with a balanced attack, scoring six of the next eight points. Chapman, Santiago, and Kuperus each added kills in the closing stretch as the Defenders sealed the sweep 25-17.
Cziep finished with two kills and two and a half points while Youssef added one of his best offensive outings of the season. Libero AJ Rasquero led the defense with nine digs, and VanDellen chipped in a kill and solo block.
Dordt controlled play at the net, registering eight team blocks and allowing just two total blocks from Graceland. The Defenders also served nine aces compared to Graceland's two, and held a 36-33 edge in digs.
Following the match, Head Coach Eric Majors emphasized development and long-term growth. "We continue to focus on the process. This is a young group that is gaining valuable experience every time out," Majors said. "Tonight showed us where we need to improve on both ends of the court. Credit to Dordt—they executed at a high level. We'll regroup and get back to work. There's more in this group, and we believe in their ability to rise."
The Yellowjackets have five regular-season matches remaining, including three against league opponents, as they continue to pursue their first Heart victory of the season.
Up Next
Graceland will travel to Ottawa, Kansas, to face Ottawa University this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Wilson Field House.
For more information on Graceland men's volleyball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.