Eutectics Pull off Another Upset as they take down #15 Mount Mercy!

The Eutectic men's volleyball team was coming off a five-game losing streak to NAIA top-ranked teams in the Heart of America Athletic Conference as they travelled to Iowa for the weekend. After snapping the streak on Friday with their second victory over Clarke University (6-22, 3-15, HEART) in Dubuque, the Eutectics pulled off a stunning five-set victory over No. 15-ranked Mount Mercy University (24-7, 11-7 HEART) in Cedar Rapids: 25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-11.

It is UHSP's first victory over MMU in program history, and the second major upset the Eutectics have earned in this historic season. The first was a win over No. 8-ranked Missouri Baptist University back in February.

While the Eutectic attacking percentage was only slightly higher than the MMU Mustangs (27.2% to 23.9%), the Purple and Gold dominated at the net, putting up a brick wall of double and triple blocks to shut down the Mustang attackers.

The Eutectics got off to a good start in Set 1, taking the lead early and forcing the Mustangs to take chase. The home team eventually caught up at 10-10 and the two teams battled for the lead until the Eutectics, down 17-16, won four of the next five points off a kill and an ace from Cooper Hansen, a kill from Grant Hoover, and an MMU attacking error, to take a lead they would not give up. Hansen earned the last two points for the Eutectics converting sets from Cole Cwiklowski into kills to take the set at 25-22.

In Set 2, the Mustangs scored four points in a row off three kills and a UHSP error to go up 9-6. A service ace by Isaac Gallinero and an MMU error allowed the Euts to tie it at 11-11, and the lead bandied about until, at 14-14, two MMU kills and a Eutectic error put the home team in the lead for good.  Despite kills from Hoover (2), Hansen (2), and Marcus Parker in the final rallies, the Mustangs prevailed to tie the match with a score of 25-22.  

Another tight set followed, as the Eutectics took a 6-4 lead thanks to Cwiklowski setting up Hoover, Hansen for two, and Dickson Colado three times for Eutectic kills. The Mustangs were able to win three points in a row to tie it up again, and the battle for the lead continued with tie scores at 7, 8, and 9 before a Cameron Werner/Colado block followed by a Colado kill put the Euts ahead 11-9. The Purple and Gold were able to hold onto the lead for the duration of the set, as the UHSP defense forced attacking errors by the Mustangs, while the offense pounded down kills to go up by as much as six points in the set (20-14). At 23-17, MMU tested the Euts by winning five of the next six points off two kills, and ace, and two UHSP errors. But, a kill by Werner (from Cwiklowski) gave the Euts set-point (24-20) and an MMU service error eventually sealed the win at 25-22.

Down two sets to one, the favored Mustangs refused to go down easy. And, despite the Eutectics' six blocks in Set 4, the UHSP offense struggled, tallying nine attacking errors on 40 attempts with 11 kills. The Eutectics led from the beginning, taking a 13-11 lead before the Mustangs strung together seven points in a row off four kills, a block, and two UHSP errors to go up 18-13. The Purple and Gold chipped away at the deficit, and thanks to two kills, an ace and a block assist (with Werner) by Hansen, along with kills from Hoover (2) and Colado, they were able to tie the set at 22 apiece. That seemed to snap the Mustangs into attention, however, who proceeded to win the next three points, finishing the set with a service ace at 25-22.

With the set score tied at 2-2, the Eutectics shot out of the gate in the shortened deciding set. Werner played heavily into the Eutectic early offense, racking up to two kills and a block assist (with Hoover and Colado) as the Eutectics took a 6-2 lead and never looked back. The Eutectics maintained at least a two-point buffer as they raced to get to 15. Up 13-11, UHSP won the next two points off a kill by Grant Hoover (from Cwiklowski) and an MMU error to take the set at 15-11 and clinch the match, 3-2.

Cole Cwiklowski set up 50 assists in the five-set match, helping four Eutectic attackers reach double figures in kills: Grant Hoover (15), Cooper Hansen (13), Dickson Colado (12), and Cameron Werner (10). Hansen recorded four aces on the day, while UHSP libero Xavier Gamayo picked up 11 digs. Grant Hoover and Marcus Parker racked up eight block assists apiece.

MMU setter Raphael Massara recorded 55 assists, mostly to Akeel Oxley, who finished with 23 kills and also three aces. Johann Schopsdau was busy on defense, collecting 20 digs.

With one match left in the season, the Eutectics now hold a record of 19-12 overall and 7-10 in the Conference.

Up next for UHSP: the final match of the season is "senior night" at home on Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. versus Culver-Stockton College (Mo.)(3-27, 0-17).