The Benedictine Mesa Men's Volleyball Team delivered a commanding performance on day two of the NAIA National Tournament Pool Play, sweeping Grand View in straight sets (25–17, 25–18, 25–16) to stay alive in the hunt for bracket play.
Set 1:
Benedictine came out with intensity, opening the match with back-to-back kills from Landon Fuller and Dapre Rogers, both assisted by setter John Jakaitis. The teams exchanged points early, with Grand View's Daniel Galili and Rafael Obrusnik leading their offense. However, the Redhawks capitalized on Grand View's errors, with Rogers delivering a service ace and both Fuller and Josh Beymer adding timely kills. Benedictine widened the lead after a service ace by Jack LeDuff and a string of Viking miscues, prompting a Grand View timeout at 12–6. Despite a brief rally by Galili, Benedictine's composure held strong. A series of unforced errors from Grand View and another Rogers ace extended the lead to 19–14. Fuller closed the set with his fourth kill, securing a 25–17 win for the Redhawks.
Set 2:
Benedictine sustained its momentum in the second set despite an early point by Grand View's Malakai Christian. A service error tied the set at 1–1, and from there, the Redhawks took control. Highlighted by kills from LeDuff, Rogers, and Weinert, and aided by Grand View's attack errors, Benedictine surged ahead 11–7. Setter John Jakaitis continued his strong distribution, while the Redhawk front line pressured the Vikings on both ends. Though Grand View attempted to claw back with key kills from Griffel and Galili and an ace by Andre Leandro, Benedictine's consistency never wavered. A timeout at 14–9 did little to slow the Redhawks, as a Rogers kill and strong net play from Fuller and Weinert helped close the set 25–18, giving Benedictine a 2–0 lead.
Set 3:
The Redhawks came out firing in the third set, capitalizing on early errors from Grand View and establishing a quick 7–2 lead behind a block from Beymer and a Rogers kill. Benedictine's front line continued to dominate with blocks by Rogers and Weinert, while Beymer and Fuller chipped in offensively. Jakaitis remained pivotal as both a setter and scorer, and Fuller's steady presence at the net kept Grand View on their heels. Despite kills from Griffel, Weseloh, and Becassis, the Vikings struggled to find rhythm. Benedictine forced two timeouts from Grand View, but the pressure never let up. Rogers, Fuller, and Weinert strung together decisive kills to make it 19–11. A late push by Grand View wasn't enough, as the Redhawks sealed the match 25–16 with a block by Beymer and Rogers.
Key Players:
Looking Ahead:
Benedictine's advancement to bracket play now hinges on the outcome of tomorrow's match between Saint Xavier and Grand View. For the Redhawks to move forward, Grand View must defeat Saint Xavier.
