Men’s Volleyball Rookies Shine in Sweep of Purdue Fort Wayne

The Loyola men’s volleyball team swept the Purdue University Fort Wayne Mastodons Feb. 29 at Gentile Arena. First-year outside hitter Daniel Fabikovic lit up the box score with 18 kills in the straight-set victory, one shy of his season-high record of 19.

The Mastodons struck first with an ace from fifth-year outside hitter Jon Diedrich, which was followed by a kill from third-year outside hitter Mark Frazier. Loyola gained the serve after a Purdue Fort Wayne service error but conceded another kill from Diedrich and went down 3-1 after the opening exchange.

The first set went point-for-point until back-to-back kills from Daniel Fabikovic gave Loyola the first lead change of the night at 16-14. Purdue Fort Wayne erased the deficit after a kill from Fraizer and a Loyola attack error to tie it again at 16.

The Mastodons’ Frazier capped off a 3-0 run with an ace after two Rambler reception errors, sending Loyola into their first timeout behind 21-20. Out of the break, a block assist from fourth-year middle blocker Jack Yentz, third-year middle blocker Nicodemus Meyer and redshirt third-year Dan Mangun followed a kill from Fabikovic to put the Ramblers back ahead 22-21.

The final exchange started with a kill from redshirt third-year outside hitter Parker Van Buren followed by a service error from Yentz. A powerful ace over the middle from third-year Mastodon middle blocker Bryce Walker was answered by Van Buren with another kill to give Loyola a set point. The Ramblers’ last-minute substitution of first-year setter Cole Scobel proved impactful, as he recorded an ace to take down the Mastodons 25-23 in a competitive first set.

In the second set, Loyola sparked a 4-0 scoring run after two block assists from Meyer Van Buren and Yentz. An attack error from the Mastodons and a kill from fourth-year middle blocker Jimmy Meinhart gave Loyola a 5-3 lead while Purdue Fort Wayne settled for an early timeout.

A service error by Purdue Fort Wayne followed a kill from first-year middle blocker Kaden Fosdick. Loyola rode an array of momentum with a block assist from Mangun and Meyer. Van Buren followed with an ace. 

Kills from Meyer and Fabikovic added two more to the board for the Ramblers. A final three-player block assist from Mangun, Meinhart and Meyer gave the Ramblers a 13-6 lead.

Third-year Purdue Fort Wayne opposite hitter Axel Melendez Watts traded a kill with Fabikovic. Meinhart’s final kill followed nine attacks and reception errors from both sides. Fabikovic broke the pattern with a kill to give Loyola 22 points.

Two kills from Fabikovic gave Loyola a match point, and Yentz added a kill to give Loyola a dominant set two victory, 25-15.

Loyola opened the third with two Fabikovic kills before a Ramblers attack error set up a kill from Meinhart on the next play. A block assist from Van Buren and Meinhart followed a kill for the Mastodons and an attack error from Yentz. Loyola led 4-3 after the first exchange of the third. 

Meyer followed with two kills, and Van Buren and Frazier traded a kill with Yentz. Two service errors from each side followed and Loyola inched ahead 9-6 after two service errors by both teams.

A block assist from Fabikovic and Meinhart followed a kill from Melendez Watts. A kill from Yentz and Fabikovic and an attack error by Van Buren put Loyola ahead 15-10.

After a timeout, Van Buren grabbed his second ace of the night while both teams traded kills. An ace from Mangun made the score 20-13. The Ramblers were forced to take a timeout after three attack errors.

Fabikovic made another kill set by second-year libero J.J. Sowa, followed by a kill from Yentz. A bad set from Mangun gave Purdue Fort Wayne the serve, but Meyer sent the Mastodons into a second timeout now trailing 23-17 after a powerful solo block.

A kill from Fraizer gave Purdue Fort Wayne 18 points. For set point, Mangun set up Fabikovic for his 18th kill. A service error from Van Buren gave the Mastodons 19 and Walker, Diedrich and first-year setter Andrej Polomac followed with a block assist to reach 20. Another attack error followed for Loyola, but Van Buren registered a kill over the middle to take the third 25-21 and complete the sweep. 

Loyola returns to Gentile Arena to face Quincy University March 14 at 7 p.m. with broadcast information yet to be announced.

Featured image by Allison Treanor | The Phoenix