The Marymount University men's volleyball team handed No. 4 Dominican (Ill.) University its first loss of the season, in a 3-0 sweep, on Sunday afternoon at the Converse Family Fieldhouse.
The Saints closed out hard-fought battles in each set, winning all three by the score of 25-23.
Kills from senior Sam Safley and sophomore Miles Olson put the first points on the board in the first set for a 2-0 lead.
The teams traded small runs through the first set, which saw five lead changes until the Stars took a 15-14 edge. Olson put down another kill, starting a 3-0 spurt that was capped by a service ace from freshman Hayden Kerekes, to take the lead for good, 17-15.
Sophomore Ervin Harrell put down two kills in the final points to earn the first-set win.
Marymount took another early lead in the second set, with two kills, each, from Harrell and Safley, led the way to a 6-3 advantage.
The Saints held the lead to 14-11, on a service ace by Kerekes, but the Stars responded with a 4-0 run.
The teams continued to battle, and Dominican looked to tie the match, with a 23-21, late, lead.
However, sophomore Jason Perkins and senior Joseph Zanelotti put down kills to tie the score, before Zanelotti got up for a big solo block to take the lead, 24-23, before taking the 2-0 match lead.
The Stars took the early lead in the third set, pushing it to 10-7, but a 7-2 run for the Saints took their first lead of the final frame.
Safley, Harrell, and Olson, all, tallied kills in the run, while Zanelotti and Kerekes teamed for a block to take a 14-12 edge.
Dominican stayed close, but the Saints would not give in the rest of the way. Safley added two-more kills, as the team took a 24-20 lead, looking to end the match.
The Stars fought back with three-straight points, but Harrell got up for one-last kill to put away the win.
Safley led the way with 11 kills, while Harrell added 10. Zanelotti dished out 34 assists, while sophomore Chris Manganiello led with 12 digs.
The Saints will now look to Tuesday, March 17, for their next game, hosting Southern Virginia University in a Continental Volleyball Conference matchup; the first serve is set for 7 p.m.
STORY COURTESY OF MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION