Eutectics Reach 20 Wins on Senior Night

In the final match of its historic season, the Eutectic men's volleyball team earned its 20^th victory of the season to set a new program record of 20-12 (8-10 HEART) on senior night. The UHSP team defeated Culver-Stockton College (3-28, 0-18 HEART) in straight sets, 25-13, 25-19, 25-15, in a Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup on Tuesday in front of a large crowd of Eutectic supporters. Following the match, seniors Connor Behymer, Cole Cwiklowski, and Marcus Parker, along with manager Kyle Hogan were honored for their contributions to the program over the past five years.

In their previous meeting in March in Canton, Mo., the Eutectics dropped a set to the CSC Wildcats. But, on Tuesday, a Eutectic victory was never in doubt, as the home team calmly and confidently won the match in straight sets, while getting every player in the match. The Eutectics collected 14 kills in each set, recording an attacking percentage as high as 54.5% in the first set, and finishing the match at an impressive 40.5%.

The Purple and Gold came into the match with high energy, excited to celebrate their seniors and attain their 20^th win of the season. They immediately set the tone of the set by pulling ahead 7-1, as Cameron Werner served up six points in a row, including an ace, before the Wildcats called a timeout. The Euts extended that lead to 20-10 after senior setter Cole Cwiklowski set up Dickson Colado and Cameron Werner for kills, and Marcus Parker and Grant Hoover put up a block. The Wildcats were able score three more points before the Euts, at 22-13, won the final three points off kills from Grant Hoover and Jackson Brincks (set by Cwiklowski) and a double block to win the set from Cooper Hansen and Werner.  

The second set was the closest of the three, as the Wildcats tied the score at 4, 6, 7, and 8, then won three points in a row to take the lead at 11-8. The Eutectics came back to tie it a 13 apiece off two Cwiklowski-to-Colado set-kill series and a block from Parker and Werner. Culver-Stockton put forth some good attacks to keep the lead for several rallies, but at 16-16, a CSC service error and a surprise attack from Cwiklowski put the Euts up for good at 18-16. Again, the UHSP team won the last three points of the set off two kills (from Werner and Colado) and a double block from Werner and Hoover for a 25-19 victory.

The Wildcats held an early lead in the third set, going up 4-2, mostly due to Eutectic errors. Back-to-back Hoover kills tied the score at 4-4, and with the home team up 9-8, they extended that lead by four points off three CSC errors and a block from Hansen and Werner. At 14-10, the Euts won five points in a row off kills from Colado, Hoover, Parker, an ace from Werner, and a block from Colado and Hoover to make it 19-10. Another string of three points for the Eutectics (kills from Hoover and Brincks, and an ace from Manny Nieto) gave them match point at 24-13. The Wildcats were able to put down two more kills before Cwiklowski and Parker settled the matter with a set and kill to finish the set at 25-15 and win the match, 3-0.

Dickson Colado finished the match with 13 kills on 19 attempts with only one error for an attacking percentage of 63.2%. Grant Hoover also reach double figures in kills with 10, while leading the team in digs (8) and block assists (5). Cole Cwiklowski recorded 34 assists for the team.

Immediately following the match, the three seniors were recognized for their contributions to the Eutectic program. Connor Behymer, Cole Cwiklowski, and Marcus Parker made their mark on the Eutectic men's volleyball program in different ways, but each of them left the program holding multiple UHSP career records: Kills (Behymer), Serves Received (Behymer), Blocks (Parker), Total Matches and Sets Played (Parker), Assists (Cwiklowski), Digs (Cwiklowski), and Aces (Cwiklowski). Cwiklowski has the distinction of being the only UHSP men's volleyball player in program history to be named Conference and NAIA Setter of the Week, and currently leads the NAIA for Season Assists (1,092) and Assists per Set (10.30).

The 2024 Eutectic season was definitely the most successful in the program's five-year existence. The team's 20 wins dwarfs the program's previous-highest win total of six from last year. The 12 losses this season were all from top-20 ranked teams in the NAIA. Four of the team's seven starters were freshman this season, so while the loss of the three senior starters will leave a huge hole, the future of the program looks bright.