OLIVET, Mich. – The Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball team faced Olivet College in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League opener inside of the Cutler Athletic Complex. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Comets in straight sets by final scores of 25-17, 25-19, and 25-14.
BW (16-3, 1-0 MCVL) was led by junior right side hitter Nick Mazzone (Springboro/Bishop Fenwick) as he notched a match-high 12 kills, and added three blocks and two service aces. Junior setter Brandon Long (Hinckley/Metea Valley, Ill.) dished out 35 assists while junior All-MCVL outside hitter Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby) hit .556 with 11 kills and posted two blocks and an ace.
Olivet (4-9, 0-2 MCVL) was led by junior outside hitter Deontay Thomas as tallied a team-high seven kills and junior setter Everett Haynes notched a team-high eight digs, 16 assists, and two kills.
1st Set
- BW trailed by three points (18-15) before a 6-0 run was sparked by a kill and block from Mazzone to earn the Yellow Jackets the 24-15 advantage
- The Yellow Jackets clinched the set win on another kill by Mazzone (25-17)
2nd Set
- With BW just up one point (13-12), a 4-0 run, topped off with an ace from freshman middle hitter Colby Whiteside (Powell/Olentangy Liberty), gave BW the 17-12 lead late in the game
- With Olivet working to close the gap, a kill by freshman middle hitter Josh Steinitz (Towson, Md./Friends School of Baltimore) kept the momentum in the Yellow Jackets' favor as they tallied three straight to close set two (25-19)
3rd Set
- BW got out to a 16-8 advantage in set three
- The Yellow Jackets kept the momentum, and finished the set on a 6-1 run, claiming the set (25-14) and match (3-0) win
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Wednesday, March 8 as the team is on the road to Chicago, Ill. for a non-conference doubleheader against Augustana (Ill.) College and Concordia Chicago. BW will take on Augustana at 6:30 p.m. ET and Concordia Chicago at 8:30 p.m. ET inside of the Geiseman Gymnasium.
