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Purdue Fort Wayne
Quincy
'Dons Clip Hawks in Nail-Biter
4/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
April 3, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN – The match was close most of the way, but the IPFW men’s volleyball team (11-10, 2-3 MIVA) had a knack for finishing strong Friday night against conference foe Quincy University (16-24, 0-6 MIVA). Oliver Kook closed out the match with three straight aces as the ‘Dons beat the Hawks 3-0 (31-29, 31-29, 30-25).
Darryl Shank led all players with 15 kills (15-2-32), and Oliver Kook had a career-high 18.5 points including 14 kills (14-2-27), while Ben Duckworth finished with 10 (10-6-33).
Kook recorded the ‘Dons first kill of the match tying things up at 2-2 right before Duckworth knocked in the first of his six service aces on the night. The first frame was very close throughout, but it was IPFW’s serving which became the difference. IPFW had four aces to Quincy’s zero and had less service errors. The ‘Dons trailed by three at 16-19, but tied things up at 22-22 and took a four point lead at 28-24. The Hawks rallied again to take the late 29-28 lead before a Quincy service error knotted things back up at 29-29. Duckworth’s back-to-back service aces sealed the deal in the first set 31-29.
During the second set the ‘Dons jumped out early and led by three at 7-4 after a Kook service ace. Quincy came back to tie things up at 8-8 and proceeded to take a significant lead midway through the set at 19-14. Shank and Jonathan Meyer became the ‘Dons spark plugs in the second set as they helped fight off the Hawks. IPFW trailed most of the second set but finally tied things up late at 25-25. Shank had three late kills, but it was Duckworth who again closed the set with a kill from Mader and another service ace.
After the intermission the ‘Dons struggled to string a run together. IPFW fell behind early at 6-12 before going on a 7-1 run to tie the match at 13-13 forcing Quincy to use a timeout. The advantage teetered back and forth during the middle of the set but IPFW finally secured the lead at 22-21 with a Quincy error. Kook’s arsenal of aces began after that. Three straight aces from the junior middle put things out of reach for the visiting Hawks. Shank gave IPFW the match point and Mader found Meyer on the left side for a match-clinching kill.
The win gives IPFW its second win in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association as Quincy remains winless in the conference, (0-6).
Peter Coley led Quincy with 13 kills (13-0-26, .500), as Collin Cooper collected 13 digs for the Hawks.
Shank recorded his third career double-double, as Kook had a career night in kills (14) and service aces (4).
IPFW and Quincy will meet again tomorrow, (Saturday), for an afternoon matinee beginning at 3:00 PM at the Gates Sports Center.
~Dons~
