Carthage Downs IPFW, 3-1

Friday, February 17

Fort Wayne, Ind.

7:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

7-5

Carthage

8-1

CARTHAGE

IPFW

Photo by: Lucas Carter

2/17/2012 9:18:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Carthage Red Men fed off a game-high .298 hitting percentage and 11.5 team blocks to down the IPFW men's volleyball team in four sets Friday evening at the Gates Sports Center in Fort Wayne, Ind.

The Mastodons fall to 7-5 overall in 2012 with the loss, while Carthage wins its eighth-straight match and improves to 8-1.

IPFW opened the first set hitting on all cylinders, moving out to a 10-5 lead, as Ivan Matos and Eddie Rivera each smashed kills. Ahead by three at 15-11, Phil Peterson put the 'Dons comfortably ahead by five on the next play after jumping out of the back row and blasting a kill. IPFW took the lead to set point, where Omar Rivera delivered a well-set pass to E. Rivera, who placed a kill to the Carthage back row, giving the home team set one, 25-20.

In the second set, the 'Dons once again jumped out quickly, as Peterson put IPFW in front 7-3 with a service ace. Before the Mastodons could build on their lead, the Red Men marched back and tied the score at 8-8. The teams traded points until Carthage took the lead at 21-20, and then earned set point at 24-22. Not shaken, the Mastodons fought back and tied the frame at 25-25, taking the set into extra points. After an attack error from Matos, the Red Men closed the frame with a kill from Randy Hansen to win 29-27.

Following intermission, the teams battled for points to begin the third frame, with Peterson leading the way with three kills. Moments later, Carthage pulled away and built a seven-point lead at 21-14. The Red Men held the advantage until set point at 24-18, when Matt Yatz put the frame away with a right-handed kill, sending Carthage ahead in the match, 2-1.

Looking to get back into the contest, IPFW pulled ahead 8-4 early in the fourth set after E. Rivera blasted a pair of service aces. With the insertion of Elon Fyfield, Patrick Pinto and Anthony Randolph, the home team regained its confidence and took a 19-14 lead, as Fyfield picked up six big kills. When it appeared IPFW would close out set four with a 24-22 advantage, the Red Men stormed back and earned point of their own at 25-24. On the would be final play, Hansen blasted his 17th kill of the match to hand Carthage the road victory.

Matos led IPFW with 14 kills, while E. Rivera and Ramon Burgos each tallied 10. O. Rivera managed 34 assists. As a unit, IPFW recorded a .244 hitting-mark and six service aces.

The Mastodons will return to the court tomorrow evening, when they hit the road to face Ball State in Muncie, Ind. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.

~Feel the Rumble~