Eutectics Down Wildcats in Four Sets

CANTON, MO. - The Eutectic men's volleyball team travelled to Canton, Mo., on Tuesday to take on the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats for a Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup. Despite a third-set hiccup, the Eutectics seemed to have little trouble disposing of the Wildcats in their first meeting of the season, winning 25-15, 25-17, 19-25, 25-12.  

The Eutectics rolled out to a 3-0 lead to start the match in Set 1 off a kill by Connor Behymer, an ace from Cole Cwiklowski, and a Wildcat attacking error. They continued in that vein, allowing only four points by the home team in the first 15 plays. The Wildcats struggled with errors throughout the set, as the Eutectics seemed to work like a well-oiled machine, going up 20-12, then closing out the set at 25-15 following two CSC errors.

The Wildcats earned the first point of Set 2, and the teams battled for the lead early until at 4-4, the Eutectics earned four points in a row to go up 7-4 off kills from Grant Hoover and Cwiklowski and two CSC attacking errors. The Purple and Gold built on that lead as the set progressed. Up 22-15, the Wildcats gave up the next three points in a row with errors. CSC was able to earn two more points before the Eutectics closed out the set off a kill by Cooper Hansen off a Cwiklowski set at 25-17.

Trying out a new rotation in the third set, the Eutectics maintained the momentum early. They held at least a two-point cushion until, at 13-10, the Euts gave up six points in a row off four errors and two Wildcat kills to fall behind 16-13. The streak was broken by a CSC error, but they continued on to win four of the next five points to go up 20-15. From there, the Eutectics simply could not catch up, as both teams committed multiple errors before the home team reached 25 to UHSP's 19 to force a fourth set.

In the fourth set, the Eutectics returned to form, with Cwiklowski back in the rotation and serving up nine points in a row to start things off. The Euts seemed unstoppable, going up 12-2, then 16-4, and later earning three points in a row off a kill by Dickson Colado (from Cwiklowski) and two CSC errors to take a 21-8 lead. Cwiklowski was credited with the final kill of the match, set up by Hansen, to win the set 25-12 and earn the set win 3-1.

As a team, the Eutectics out hit the Wildats .343 to .119 in the match, with 16 more kills and six fewer errors. Dickson Colado and Grant Hoover racked up 16 and 13 kills, respectively – each averaging over .420 in hitting percentage. Cwiklowski put up 33 assists in his three sets on the court. Connor Behymer and Xavier Gamayo combined for 21 digs, while Cameron Werner recorded six blocks.

Tonight's Conference win puts the Eutectic record at 13-6 and 4-5 in the HEART.  

This weekend, the UHSP team will head to Lebanon, Tennessee for three matches hosted by Cumberland University. On Friday, the Euts will take on Brescia University (Ky.)(4-13) for a neutral match at 7 p.m. before a trimatch with Campbellsville University and Cumberland on Saturday.