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Hope International University

MVB vs CLU
(C) Liza Rosales
2
Cal Lutheran CLU 18-5
3
Winner Hope International HIU 12-4
Cal Lutheran CLU
18-5
2
Final
3
Hope International HIU
12-4
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Cal Lutheran CLU 25 22 29 25 10 (2)
Hope International HIU 16 25 31 21 15 (3)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball | | Robert Nilsen

Royals Rally to Win Five Set Thriller Over DIII Kingsmen

Fullerton, CA - The No. 14 Hope International men's volleyball team (12-4, 4-1 GSAC) fell 3-2 to the NCAA Division III Cal Lutheran University Kingsmen on Tuesday evening at home in the Darling Pavilion.

The Kingsmen came out quickly on a 5-1 run to start the game. The Royals would answer to make it 5-3 on a kill by Julian Zavala but the Kingsmen extended their advantage to 17-9. The Royals tried to regroup after a timeout as they rallied to make it 19-13 with kills from Danny Helou and Cole Oliver. The Kingsmen had all the answers as they went on to win 25-16 to take a 1-0 lead. The Kingsmen took an early lead but the Royals answered with back to back blocks by Kyler Tufuga to take a 7-5 lead. Back to back kills by Oliver would put the Royals up 11-8 but the Kingsmen came right back to lead 15-14. The Royals would then rally with great serving from Oliver with two aces and back to back kills from Danny Helou to take a 21-17 lead. The Kingsmen would fight back to make it 24-22 but Tufuga set up Oliver for the set winning kill 25-22 as the Royals tied the game 1-1.

The Royals continued their momentum into the third set as a kill by Sean Seam put them up 9-6. The Kingsmen would rally to tie it 11-11. The Royals would quickly answer with three kills from Helou, Oliver and Damon Potter to go back up 14-11. The Kingsmen would come right back to take a 16-15 lead but the Royals answered with a 4-0 run finished off by a block from Seaman and Tufuga to take a 19-16 lead. The Kingsmen would once again comeback to lead 24-23 but the Royals didn't go down easily with another kill by Oliver to tie it 24-24. The Royals then battled in extra points with kills from Oliver and Zavala giving them a 31-29 win and a 2-1 lead. The Kingsmen looked to stay alive as they raced out to a 7-2 lead. Helou would get the Royals within 10-9 with a kill but the Lancers extended their lead to 15-10. The Royals battled back to make it 23-21 but the Kingsmen closed out the set winning 25-21 to tie the game 2-2.

The Royals quickly took a 4-1 lead off a block by Zavala and Potter but the Kingsmen rallied to get within 7-6. Oliver put an end to their momentum with a kill to spark a 4-1 run as the Royals went up 11-7. The Kingsmen regrouped after a timeout to make it 11-9 but the Royals weren't about to allow a comeback as Oliver and Zavala closed out the game with back to back kills to win 15-10 and 3-2. Fresh off being named GSAC and NAIA Attacker of the Week Oliver led the Royals with 36 kills good enough for third all time in single game history. Tufuga led with 65 assists tying for fourth all time in single game history.

The Royals continue action on the road as they travel to Santa Clarita, CA to take on No. 1 The Master's on Thursday, March 20 at 6:00 PM.
 


 
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