Men's Volleyball downed in first WHAC game

(Grand Rapids, MI) - The Rochester Christian men's volleyball team headed to the west side of the state to open up Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play against the Saints from Aquinas. The Warriors played tight throughout the three sets, but ultimately would fall to the Saints 3-0. 

Xander Slate got the scoring started for the Warriors in the first set of the evening with a kill as RCU responded to the 2-0 AQ start with their own 2-0 start. Neither team was able to get a stretch of play going as they would trade points back and forth until the 11-11 tie. From that point, AQ would put up 14 of the next 18 points in order to claim the first set. 

Jailen Tatum and Xander Slate started the RCU scoring in set 2, responding to the 4-0 Saints start. The Warriors had two stretches of three-straight points with Emarion Buchanan and Claudio Arato getting blocks, while Jonathan Chow and Bao Nguyen would earn kills during those stretches. After RCU fought back to a 21-19 deficit, AQ scored four of the final set points to take set 2. 

The final set of the evening saw the two teams split the first two points, with Bao Nguyen earning the RCU point. Aquinas would hold the lead throughout the remainder of the set, building their lead out from 8-4 up to a 20-12 lead. The second straight set would see AQ score four of the last six points to earn the 3-0 victory. 

TOP PERFORMERS

A pair of Warriors led the attack with Bao Nguyen and Claudio Aragon both finishing six attacks. Jonathan Chow led the passing with 19 assists. 

Nehemiah Rosillo dug out 10 attacks to lead the team with Xander Slate second with six digs. Emarion Buchanan and Claudio Arato both had two blocks. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors will head back to Grand Rapids on Friday, February 6, when they take on the Golden Eagles from Cornerstone at 7 PM.