Stritch Falls to Lions in Three Wolves finish season with a loss in the National semi-finals
Apr. 17, 2009
Parkville, Mo. – The Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team fell to the Lindenwood Lions for the second time this season in the semi-final match of the NAIA National Tournament. The Wolves couldn’t contain the overpowering Lindenwood hitters, who posted an overall hitting percentage of .330 in the 3-0 win.
The Wolves started out strong and were well matched with the Lions in the first half of game one. The set was tied at 15-15 before Lindenwood went on a 15-3 run that included seven Stritch errors. The Lions easily took the set 30-18.
The Wolves struggled to clean up their play in game two, quickly falling behind 9-4. Giving the Lions 13 points on errors cost the Wolves. They also struggled to keep Charles Spicer and Jared Kreienkamp, who combined for eight kills in the set. The Lions closed the game 30-23 on one such kill by Spicer.
Stritch fought hard in the third set, looking to extend the match, but their efforts were not enough to overpower Lindenwood. The two teams traded points all the way through the set until the Lions took the lead 26-23. Stritch was able to come back and tie the game at 29-29 after a kill by Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.) and two errors by Lindenwood. The Wolves fought off five match points before falling to the Lions 32-30.
Chris Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.), who was impressive the entire tournament, finished the match with a team-high nine digs. Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) led with 15 kills and five digs. Cosson and Scott Golden (Vernon Hills, Ill.) each recorded six kills. Garrett Payne (San Diego, Calif.) led the way with 35 assists.
The loss ends the season for the Wolves with an overall record of 24-6 and a regular season and tournament title in the MAMVIC East Conference.
Stritch Advances to Semi-Finals
Cosson and Frenc lead Wolves past Johnson and WalesApr. 17, 2009
Parkville, Mo. – After losing their first game in the NAIA National Tournament, the Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball needed a win against Johnson and Wales University on Friday in order to clinch a spot in the tournament semi-finals. A strong team effort provided exactly what Stritch needed to win the match in three, 30-22, 30-22, and 30-27.
Johnson and Wales kept the first set close, hanging with the Wolves until Stritch went ahead 21-17 on a service ace by Scott Golden (Vernon Hills, Ill.). Continuing to pull away, the Wolves closed the game 30-22 on an ace serve by Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia).
The second game was much of the same, as the Wildcats stayed within two point of the Wolves, and even pulled ahead by three at the 14-11 mark. However, after tying the match at 17 on a attack error by Johnson and Wales, Stritch found a spark in Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.), who put down two quick kills to take back the lead. Frenc and Golden added two kills apiece after the Wolves took control, winning the set 30-22.
Stritch was forced to play from behind in the third set after errors put them down 12-7. Kills by Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.), Golden, and Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) brought the Wolves back into the game, but they remained down until three consecutive errors by the Wildcats gave Stritch a 20-19 advantage. The two teams battled for the remaining points until a kill by Frenc ended the set at 30-27.
Frenc led the team in kills with ten, while Golden and Cass added nine and eight, respectively. Mirko Jankovic earned seven. Cosson put down six kills and was a wall at net, earning three solo blocks and six block assists. Chris Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.) led the Wolves with ten digs and Garrett Payne (San Diego, Calif.) contributed 31 assists.
The Wolves advance to the semi-finals which take place at 7:00 p.m. in Parkville, Mo. on Friday, Apr. 17. Stritch will face Lindenwood University, who finished first in their pool with wins over Park and Hope International. Lindenwood beat the Wolves earlier in the season in a heartbreaking five set match. Fans can watch the match live by visiting the NAIA website.
Stritch Can’t Pull off Upset Wolves fall to California Baptist in National TourneyApr. 16, 2009
Parkville, Mo. – The Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team lost in the first match of pool play against top ranked California Baptist on Thursday night. The Wolves gave the Lancers a run, keeping the games close in three of four sets, but couldn’t hold off California Baptist’s strong front row, and fell 16-30, 27-30, 30-28, 21-30.
The first game was a poor showing for the Wolves, who couldn’t find a spark, and played sloppy during the set. The Lancers pulled ahead quickly, taking a 12-4 advantage on a service error by Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia). Continuing to increase their advantage, California Baptist led by 16 at one point, before closing the set 30-16.
It was like a whole new Stritch team during the second set as the Wolves stayed within striking distance the entire game. They were brought down by a combined 12 hitting and service errors, and dropped the set after a late comeback, 30-27.
Stritch was able to gain control of the third set early, pulling away 21-15 on a service error by the Lancers. A California Baptist run made the game a bit more interesting, as they tied the game at 28 on a service error by Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.). Two errors by the Lancers ended the set at 30-28 in favor of the Wolves, giving Stritch a chance to take the match to five.
Looking to continue play, Stritch came out hungry and after giving California Baptist a quick three point advantage they fought back to tie the set. After a back and forth battle took the score to 16-15 in the Lancers favor, they began to heat up. Stritch was not able to handle the Lancer’s powerful front row and lost their momentum, eventually falling 30-21.
Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) led the Wolves in the losing effort with 17 kills and 13 digs. Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.) contributed 11 kills and ten digs, while Chris Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.) registered eight digs. Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) recorded eight kills and Matt Tauaese (Pomona, Calif.) and Cosson each earned six. Garrett Payne (San Diego, Calif.) dished out 29 assists in the match.
The Wolves fall to 23-5 after the loss. They face Johnson and Wales for the second game of pool play on Friday, Apr. 17 at 12:30 p.m. Fans can see the action live by visiting the NAIA website.
Stritch Men’s Volleyball Heads To National Tournament
After winning MAMVIC East, team gears up for national stage
Apr. 14, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Cardinal Stritch University Wolves men’s volleyball team will be heading to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics this week in hopes of a national title.
The Wolves have been strong all season long as the program moved swiftly through the regular season posting a 21-4 record. The regular season featured some key victories as Stritch knocked off national powerhouse Park University on Feb. 6 and then claimed the Mid-American Men’s Volleball Intercollegiate Conference (MAMVIC) East title with a late season win over St. Ambrose University on Mar. 27.
Stritch entered this year’s MAMVIC East conference tournament with an 8-2 record and as the top-seeded team. Facing Warner University, the Wolves walked away with a 3-1 first round match victory, registering scores of 30-27, 31-29, 21-30, and 30-26.
Heading into the championship match, Stritch would end up facing St. Ambrose for the third time this season with the two teams having split the regular season series. The Wolves would end up claiming the championship, defeating the Fighting Bees by a match score of 3-2.
Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) led the Wolves in kills, registering 22. The three-time NAIA Player of the Week added two solo blocks, three block assists, and four service aces in the match. Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro), who recorded 14 kills, and Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.) shined at the net, combining for five solo blocks and eight block assists.
Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.) was also a big contributor, adding 15 kills and seven digs. Garrett Payne (San Diego, Calif.) once again led the way with 45 assists.
With the Wolves riding high into the national tournament, the team will prepare for pool play, which is set to start on Thursday. Stritch will face California Baptist in the first round of Pool A on Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m.
The Wolves will take the court again on Friday, April 17, facing Johnson & Wales at 12:30 p.m., also a part of Pool play. The top two teams remaining from Pool A and B will then play later on in the day on Friday.
This year’s tournament games will be shown by the NAIA on Livestats and also on free internet video. For more information, please click here. Scores and recaps will also be posted online on Stritch’s Men’s Volleyball page. To read the recaps, please click here.
Wolves Win MAMVIC East Conference Tournament Stritch enters NAIA National Tournament with #3 RankingApr. 4, 2009
Chicago, Ill. - After defeating St. Ambrose University on their home court to take the MAMVIC East Division regular season title, the Cardinal Stritch University Wovles entered the conference tournament as a number one seed. A tight race throughout the season with St. Ambrose was repeated in the tournament, but Stritch once again came away the winner, and was earned the honor of Tournament Champions to go along with the regular season win.
Stritch faced Warner University (#5) in the first match of the tournament. The Royals fought a hard battle against the Wolves, who eventually came out on top in four sets, winning 30-27, 31-29, 21-30, and 30-26. A combined effort by Stritch hitters and strong defense by Chris Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.), who registered 16 digs, made the difference for the Wolves.
Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) led the way with 16 kills, two solo blocks and one block assist. Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) and Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.) each contributed 12 kills in the match. Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.) earned two solo blocks and three block assists. Garrett Payne (San Diego, Calif.) dished out 36 assists for the Wolves.
The win earned Stritch a place in the championship game. They faced St. Ambrose for the title in a repeat of the regular season championship game. The Bees did not make it easy for the Wolves, keeping it close all the way until the closing points of the fifth game. In the end, the overall effort of the Wolves was enough for them to finish off St. Ambrose and come away with another championship.
Frenc once again led the Wolves in kills, registering 22. The three-time NAIA Player of the Week added two solo blocks, three block assists, and four service aces in the match. Jancovik, who recorded 14 kills, and Cosson shined at the net, combining for five solo blocks and eight block assists. Cass was a big contributer with 15 kills and seven digs. Payne once again led the way with 45 assists, while Arquilla played the set-up man, earning 15 digs.
As Conference Champions, the Wolves improve to 23-4 overall. They enter the NAIA National Tournament ranked #3, and are set to face California Baptist (#1) and Johnson and Wales (#6) in pool play beginning Apr. 16 at 7:00 p.m. in Kansas City, Mo. Those who are unable to attend can watch the games, broadcast live, through the NAIA website.
Frenc Earns Consecutive Player of the Week Honors Leads Stritch to Conference ChampionshipApr. 1, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. - Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) has been named the NAIA Player of the Week for two weeks in a row for his outstanding performance. The sophomore has led the way for the Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team throughout the season. His efforts have contributed to an 8-2 conference record and a MAMVIC East Conference Championship.
Frenc received Player of the Week honors for the second time on Mar. 23 after leading the Wolves to a 5-0 record for the week. During these five games, the 6-4 right side hitter averaged 7.15 kills a game and recorded a .487 hitting percentage.
For the third time this season, Frenc was honored on Mar. 30. The Wolves went 2-0 during this week, including a win over St. Ambrose University for the MAMVIC East title. Frenc had 6.66 kills and 2.33 digs per game in the matches.
Strong play by Frenc has helped the Wolves to be successful all season. The Wolves will look to the sophomore, along with many other standouts among Stritch players, as they continue to the NAIA National Tournament.
Wolves Take Bees and Division
Frenc stays hot in win over St. AmbroseMar. 27, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – It was a huge game for two NAIA nationally ranked teams as the matchup between Cardinal Stritch University (#3) and St. Ambrose University (#7) would place one team at the top of the Mid-America Men’s Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference (MAMVIC) East Division. Both teams came into the match with a 7-2 conference record, but it was the Wolves who came out on top, overpowering the Bees in four set, 30-26, 31-29, 30-21, 30-27.
The first game was closely contested for over half the set, as the teams tied at 18. However, strong hitting by Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) and Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.) allowed Stritch to pull away, as the Wolves increased their advantage to 25-20 on a solo block by Cass. The Bees’ attempt to come back was thwarted by errors and Stritch closed the set 30-26.
It looked as though the Wolves would continue to dominate as both Frenc and senior Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.) had strong starts at the net. St. Ambrose was not to be put down, however, and the two teams went point for point, until Stritch tied the Bee’s 29-29 on a kill by Scott Golden (Vernon Hills, Ill.). The Wolves couldn’t find a way to put the set away, though, and St. Ambrose clinched the set on with a block.
The Wolves overpowered the Bees in the third set, easily taking the game 30-21. Though St. Ambrose stayed within striking distance for some time, Stritch began to pull away at the 17 point mark, as Golden and Cass put down consecutive kills, followed by a block by Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montengro) and Brad Riding-Conners (Chicago, Ill.). The Wolves continued to dominate the set, which they closed on a kill by Frenc.
In the fourth and final game, the Wolves gained a fast two point advantage after an opening kill by Cosson. Though the Bees stayed close the entire set, they were never able to close the gap, as Frenc contributed ten kills in the set, while Cosson added four kills, three blocks, and all the intensity the Wolves needed to finish the season at the top of their division. The game was closed 30-27 on an impressive kill by Frenc.
Frenc led Stritch with 32 kills and five block assists in the matchup. Jankovic contributed 13 kills and four block assists, while Cosson added 11 kills, one solo block, and three block assists. Cass and Golden registered 10 and seven kills, respectively. Chris Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.) starred defensively for the Wolves, picking up an impressive 18 digs. Garrett Payne (San Diego, Calif.) quarterbacked for the majority of the night, dishing out 45 assists. He was aided by Riding-Conners, who contributed 16.
The win takes the Wolves to 21-4 overall and 8-2 in conference. They close the season at the top of the MAMVIC East Division, and will begin conference tournament play on Apr. 3.
Stritch Shows Character in Comeback
Wolves defeat Crusaders in fiveMar. 25, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – It was an intense night for the Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team as they took the floor against Clarke College. After an easy win in the first set, the Wolves struggled with errors and communication. Stritch was able to pull together after losing two games, coming back from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Crusaders in five sets. The Wolves took the match 30-21, 24-30, 25-30, 32-30, and 15-8.
Stritch came out strong in the first set, quickly pulling to a 10-4 lead. Though the Crusaders put up a bit of a fight, they were silenced by Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) and Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro), who registered six and four kills, respectively.
The Wolves lost their way during the second and third set. Stritch had 17 hitting errors in the two games, and also struggled with serving. Clarke took advantage of mistakes by the Wolves, and pulled ahead 2-1 in the match.
Struggling for the chance to continue play, Stritch came into the fourth set with more passion than the previous two. They pulled out to an 11-6 lead on a kill by Scott Golden (Vernon Hills, Ill.), but the Crusaders came back, decreasing the margin to one after three Stritch errors and a kill by Bobby Springer (Chicago, Ill.). It was a back and forth battle from this point, until the two teams tied at 30. Stritch won the serve and was finally able to close the game, winning 32-30.
The fifth game brought much needed relief to the Stritch fans, as the Wolves came out ready to play and ran away with the set. They pulled ahead quickly, earning a 12-3 advantage. The Crusaders were able to score a few times more throughout the set, but the game was closed 15-8 on a kill by Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.).
Leading the Wolves in the win over Clarke was Frenc with 28 kills. Jankovic showed dominance at the net, earning three solo blocks and four block assists along with 16 kills. Chris Arquilla shined defensively for Stritch, registering 15 digs. Garrett Payne dished out 62 assists in the matchup, and also contributed five digs.
The win takes the Wolves to 20-4 overall and 7-2 in the MAMVIC. Clarke falls to 17-12 overall and 5-5 in conference.
The Wolves take on St. Ambrose this Friday, Mar. 27, at 7:00 p.m. Stritch is currently tied for first with the Fighting Bees, who fell on Tuesday to Missouri Baptist University, and dropped to 7-2. The Wolves lost against St. Ambrose in four sets on Feb. 11, and will look to avenge the early loss and lead the conference.
Frenc and Payne Named NAIA Player and Setter of the Week Pair leads Stritch to 5-0 in FloridaMar. 24, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Cardinal Stritch University Wolves men’s volleyball team had an extremely successful week as they traveled to Lake Wales, Fla. for the Warner Southern University Invitational. The Wolves were led by Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) and Garrett Payne (San Diego, Calif.) as both were named National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Player and Setter of the Week.
The two played an integral part in the Wolves’ five wins during the past week. Two of the five wins were also conference victories.
Frenc earned Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. The 6-4 sophomore averaged 7.15 kills per game during the five matches. He hit an astounding .487 percent. On Friday, Mar. 20, Frenc had two 20-plus kill matches. On Saturday, Mar. 21, the right side hitter totaled 32 kills in the four set match against Lees-McRae College, and earned five aces against Grand Canyon University.
Setter of the Week honors went to Payne for his outstanding efforts during the five match period. The junior averaged 13.26 assists and .26 aces per game this week. As the Wolves’ main setter, Payne has accumulated 570 assists this season.
The Wolves close out conference play this week with two home games. They are slated to face Clarke College on Wednesday, Mar. 25 at 7:00 p.m. and St. Ambrose University on Friday, Mar. 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the Allen-Bradley Gymnasium.
Wolves Take Two in Florida Frenc Continues to Shine for StritchMar. 21, 2009
Lake Wales, Fla. – The Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team had a strong showing as they faced Grand Canyon University and Lees-McRea College on Saturday. The Wolves overpowered Grand Canyon, 30-25 and 30-17. Lees-McRea proved a bit more of a challenge, as the two teams battled in a very close match, but Stritch came out on top, 3-1, winning 30-28, 28-30, 30-28, and 34-32.
Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) led all hitters against Grand Canyon, registering 15 kills and hitting .480 in the match. The sophomore also served five aces in the matchup. Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.) was a force at the net, contributing one solo block and five block assists, while Chris Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.) took control in the back row, adding 11 digs. Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.) shined at the service line with six aces against Grand Canyon.
Frenc was once again the Wolves leading hitter in the match versus Lees-McRea. The 6-4 right side hitter contributed 32 kills and recorded a hitting percentage of .403. Arquilla shined defensively for the Wolves, registering 14 digs. Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) added two solo blocks and three block assists in the effort over Lees-McRea.
The two wins take Stritch to 18-4 overall. The Wolves wrap up play in Lake Wales, Fla. on Sunday. They are set to face Fontbonne University at 12:30 p.m.
Wolves Overpower Two Conference FoesMissouri Baptist and Warner can’t stop FrencMar. 20, 2009
Lake Wales, Fla. – Missouri Baptist University and Warner University were no match for the Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team on Friday, as the Wolves defeated both conference competitors in three sets, taking Missouri Baptist 30-24, 30-27, 30-23 and beating Warner 30-26, 30-28, 30-22.
Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) was an unstoppable force for Stritch, as he registered 26 kills against Missouri Baptist and 20 kills against Warner. The 6-4 sophomore hit over .500 on the day, registering an impressive .551 during the second match. Frenc also added two solo blocks and two block assists in the win over Missouri Baptist.
Chris Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.) led Stritch defensively in both matches. The sophomore libero earned 10 digs in the first match and 13 in the second.
The wins take the Wolves to 16-4 overall and 6-2 in the conference. They are scheduled to face Grand Canyon University and Lees-McRea on Saturday, Mar. 21 in Lake Wales, Fla.
Wolves Split in Stritch Invitational Frenc’s incredible effort not enough against LindenwoodMarch 6, 2007
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team hosted Lindenwood University and Siena Heights University on Saturday for the Cardinal Stritch University Invitational. Lindenwood domintated the tournament, taking both of their matches. Stritch gave the Lions a run, but fell in five to the Lions before going on to beating Siena Heights in three sets.
The first match of the day was a nail biter, as Stritch took it to the fifth set against Lindenwood (No. 2). During the opening set, the Wolves remained in striking distance until late in the game, carried by six Vladmir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) kills. However, after pulling to within one, 18-17, on a kill by Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro), Stritch let the Lions pull away. Lindenwood went on a 12-2 run, highlighted by four kills and two aces by Devin Shiroma (Honolulu, Hawaii), to end the game 30-19.
Stritch was able to come back after the loss, taking the second set 30-26. Frenc once again played an important role for the Wolves, as he contributed seven kills in the set. He was aided by Jankovic and Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.), who each added four kills.
The third game of the match was a closely contested battle until the 20 point mark. Stritch had led 20-19 before a Garret Payne (San Diego, Calif.) service error tied the set at 20. From this point errors by the Wolves and strong net play by the Lions made the difference in the game, as Lindenwood closed the set 30-24.
Stritch came out fighting in the fourth set. The Wolves held a small lead throughout the majority of the game, with strong efforts from Frenc, who registered seven kills, and Cass, who put down five. Though Lindenwood received big contributions from Charles Spicer (Barrington, Ill.), who registered six kills in the set, and Dan Laure (Marthasville, Mo.), who added five, Stritch was able to hold on, taking the set 30-25.
The Wolves started the fifth set with a serving error, giving the Lions an early advantage. Lindenwood was able to pull away, extending their lead to six on a Spicer kill, making the score 13-7. The Wolves couldn’t find a way to come back, falling to the Lions 10-15 in the final set.
Leading the Wolves in the losing effort was Frenc, who contributed 29 kills and five digs. Cass also was strong at the net, adding 16 kills, one solo block, and two block assists in the effort. Chris Arquilla had an impressive showing defensively, with a match-high 15 digs. Leading the Wolves in assists was starting setter Garret Payne (San Diego, Calif.), who dished out 54 in the match.
The day continued with Lindenwood facing the Siena Heights University Saints. Lindenwood easily took the match in three sets, 30-18, 30-24, and 30-28. The Saints made push for a comeback at the end of the third set, but it was too little too late.
Tyler Dolph (Parker, Colo.) of Lindenwood led all hitters in the match with 14 kills. Adrian Rutt (North Olmstead, Ohio) and Matt Mitterholzer (Berea, Ohio)of Siena Heights followed close behind, with 12 and 11 kills respectively.
Stritch returned to the floor for the third match of the day to face Siena Heights. The Wolves dominated most of the match-up, taking the Saints in three quick sets, 30-26, 30-23, and 30-23.
After Cass served five consecutive points in the first set, bringing the Wolves to a 6-2 lead, Siena Heights was forced to claw their way back. Strong play by freshman Juan Sierra (Bogata, Colombia) helped the Saints get on track, and they soon led the set, 19-16, as Sierra dished one out to Rutt. However, four consecutive service aces by Frenc acted as a spark for the Wolves, who would go on to win the set 30-26.
Strong net play by both teams during the second set kept the score close until late in the game. Blocking by Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.), Fernando Bernal (Miami, Fla.), Brad Riding-Connors (Chicago, Ill.) and George Ghassan (Naperville, Ill.) kept the Wolves’ momentum high, and propelled them over the Saints 30-23 in the set.
Siena Heights gained an early advantage in the third set, going up 9-7 on a Wolves serving error. However, Stritch hitters soon got hot, leading the team to another 30-23 finish. Scott Goldon (Vernon Hills, Ill.) registered four kills in the set, while Matt Tauaese (Pomona, Calif.), Ghassan, and Bernal each added three.
Goldon led the Wolves in the match, contributing 11 kills, while Ghassan added 10.
At the close of the Invitational, the Wolves move to 12-4 overall. Lindenwood improves to 22-3 and Siena Heights falls to 19-6.
Stritch has a week to prepare for their next match, which will take place at the Clark College Invitational. They will face Hannibal LaGrange and Holy Names in Debuque, Iowa on March 13.
Wolves Take Carthage in Four Golden and Payne make strong combinationMar. 4, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – Taking the floor to begin a match against Carthage College, the Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team had an unexpected lineup, as Brendan McDevitt (Chicago, Ill), Fernando Bernal (Miami, Fla.), and George Ghassen (Naperville, Ill.) became part of the Wolves’ starting group. The change worked out for Stritch, as they took the match in four, beating Carthage 30-27, 30-28, 29-31, and 30-24.
During the first set, Stritch gained control quickly, gaining a 9-4 advantage on a kill by Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.). However, Carthage fought back, going on a 7-2 run to tie the score at 13. The game remained close, but the Wolves were able to hold onto the lead, aided by five kills from Scott Golden (Vernon Hills, Ill.) and four digs by Bernal. Errors by the Red Men also helped bring the final score to 30-27, in favor of Stritch, as Carthage gave the Wolves 13 of their points.
Carthage took advantage of a weak start by the Wolves in the second game, quickly pulling away 11-6 on a Rapheal Boahen (Denver, Colo.) service error. Stritch found a spark, however, as Golden put one away, and soon were able to tie the score at 17. The teams battled back and forth until the Wolves were finally able to put the game away, 30-28.
Strong net play by Carthage during the third set made all the difference, as the Red Men took the game 31-29. Tim Walker registered an impressive solo block against Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.), the sixth Carthage block of the set, to bring the Red Men’s lead to 10 at 21-11. However, the Wolves went on a 12-3 run, as Golden served six consecutive points, bring the score to 25-24, in favor of Carthage. The Wolves finally tied the score at 28 on an attack error by Juri Veldre (West Allis, Wis.), but were not able to hold on, as Carthage closed the set 31-29 over Stritch.
The first six points of the final set were decided by errors, as the Wolves pulled ahead, 4-2. Both teams were quickly able to get back on track, and Carthage pulled to within one on a Stritch service error. The set remained close until the Wolves began to pull away on a one handed solo block by Cosson, which brought the score to 21-16. Stritch couldn’t be touched after the crazy impressive play by the senior, and they easily took the set, 30-24.
Golden led the Wolves with 13 kills. The 6-5 sophomore also added one solo block, a block assist, and two aces. Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) contributed 11 kills and five digs for Stritch. Cass led the team defensively, registering eight digs. The 6-3 outside hitter also earned nine kills. Garret Payne (San Diego, Calif.) quarterbacked the Wolves at the setting position, dishing out 29 assists.
The win takes the Wolves to 11-3 overall. Carthage falls to 4-17.
Stritch will remain home to take the floor this Saturday March 7, facing Lindenwood and Sienna Heights in the Allen-Bradley Gymnasium. They are slated to face Lindenwood at 11:00 a.m. and Siena Heights at 3:00 p.m.
Stritch Men’s Volleyball to Host Recruitment Day Nationally-ranked Wolves Volleyball invites prospective Student-Athletes to campus.Feb. 19, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. - Interested in playing collegiate men’s volleyball? On Saturday, March 7, Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball head coach Eric Poppelman will be hosting the 2009 Wolves Men’s Volleyball Recruitment Day.
The day will be jam-packed with information for prospective men’s volleyball student-athletes. Some of the things that will be featured on the day will be a campus tour, meeting with Admissions counselors, breakfast with the coach and players, and a question and answer session with coach Poppelman.
For further information, please click here.
Wolves Outdo RaidersFrenc and Cass lead StritchFeb. 18, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team overpowered the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders on Wednesday night, taking the match in three sets. Strong defense and hitting carried the Stritch over MSOE, with final scores 30-22, 30-21, and 30-22.
The Raiders stayed close the first set of the match, tying the Wolves at 10-10 after two consecutive aces by Chris Reininger (St. Louis, Mo.). However, Stritch was eventually able to pull away. Junior setter, Garret Payne (San Diego, Calif.) did an excellent job distributing the ball to each of his hitters, as he found Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.), Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia), Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.), Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro), and Matt Tauaese (Pomona, Calif.) repeatedly throughout the game. Multiple kills by these hitters led to the Wolves 30-22 win in the first set.
The second game started off in much of the same way as the first, as the Raiders managed to tie Stritch at 10-10 once again. However, it was serving errors by the Wolves that allowed MSOE to remain in the game that long, as Stritch players missed five serves before the 10-10 mark. Strong play by Frenc created a spark for the Wolves, as he contributed eight kills in the second game, and finished the set on three consecutive ace serves.
During the third and final set Stritch gained control early and managed to hold on throughout the game. Reserve players, Scott Golden (Vernon Hills, Ill.), George Ghassan (Naperville, Ill.), and Fernando Bernal (Miami, Fla.) saw playing time during this set, each making contributions. Golden added one kill and one block, Ghassan two impressive kills, and Bernal one kill and two digs. Cass starred for the Wolves in this set, with five kills.
Defense was one of the biggest differences in the game, as Stritch out dug the Raiders 34-14. Leading the Wolves in this category was libero Chris Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.) with 9. Payne also added seven.
Frenc led the Wolves’ offense, contributing 13 kills and 4 aces. The 6-4 sophomore led all players in both categories. Cass put down 11 kills and added 2 aces for Stritch.
Max Martin (Schaumburg, Ill) led the Raiders with seven kills. Reininger registered five block assists and one solo block, along with two aces. Chris Brandt (Darien, Ill.) dished out 15 assists in the losing effort.
The win takes Stritch to 9-3 overall. MSOE drops to 2-9.
After a short break the Wolves will travel to Kenosha, Wis. on Feb. 24 to face Carthage College at 7:00 p.m.
Wolves Men’s Volleyball Defeats CrusadersStritch rebounds to take victory over conference opponentFeb. 13, 2009
Dubuque, Iowa – Despite losing the first set against the Clarke College Crusaders, the Cardinal Stritch University Wolves men’s volleyball team kept fighting and was able to claim a 3-1 victory on Friday evening.
After going down in the first set quickly 5-1, the Wolves were able to shift momentum by combining four kills by the offense and three errors by the Crusaders to take an 8-5 lead. The two teams would eventually be tied at 16-16 and trade points until late in the match.
Down 28-27, Stritch tried to gain back the lead, but was unable to as Clarke’s Alex Wilharm (Decorah, Iowa) would take a set from Alex Kelsheimer (St. Louis, Mo.) and put it down on Stritch’s side for the point to go up 29-27. With match point looming, the Wolves were unable to come back as Scott Golden (Vernon Hills, Ill.) couldn’t handle an attack by Bryndon Paulsen (Roselle, Ill.) causing the Wolves to lose 30-27 in set one.
In set two, the teams battled again point for point. Tied at 28-28, the Crusaders’ Casey Sawyer (Hemet, Calif.) was able to send home a kill putting the Wolves down 29-28 and putting them in the same position they were in during the first set.
Wanting to make sure the match didn’t get away from the team, Stritch head coach Eric Poppelman promptly called a timeout to strategize. After the timeout, the Wolves responded with a kill by Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) to tie the game back up.
An error by Golden would put Stritch down 30-29. Unlike the first set, things worked in favor of the Wolves as Frenc received a strong set from Garrett Payne (San Diego, Calif.) and drilled it to the floor on the Crusaders’ side to even the score. From there Stritch would get a kill by Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) and a block assist by Jankovic and Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.) to take the second set 32-30.
During the third set, the Stritch offense was more consistent as they put together scoring streaks of six and four points. The latter point streak came with the Wolves up 25-21 and would extend their lead to 29-21. A valiant effort by the Crusaders wouldn’t be enough as Stritch took the third set 30-24.
The fourth set tested the mettle of the Wolves. After going up early in the set 4-2, the Crusaders came back to eventually take a 19-13 lead. However, Stritch would respond with four consecutive points that included kills by Cass and Frenc to bring them to within 19-17.
Down 21-18 after two kills and a set error, Stritch’s Matthew Tauaese (Pomona, Calif.) brought the Wolves back to 21-20 with two straight kills.
Stritch would end up going up 25-24 and string together four kills to go up 29-24. Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.) sealed the match victory with a kill from a Payne set to close the score at 30-24.
On the night, Frenc would lead all Stritch players with 23 kills while Cosson had a good defensive night by partnering for six block assists. Payne led all players with 63 assists in the win.
The win improves Stritch 7-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The loss sends Clarke College to 6-7 overall and 2-2 in the MAMVIC.
The Wolves will take to the court again on Monday, Feb. 16 when they’ll play down in Chicago, Ill. against Moody Bible. The match is set to start at 7 p.m.
Stritch Wolves Men’s Volleyball Loses Heartbreaker to St. AmbroseErrors make the difference in matchFeb. 11, 2009
Davenport, Iowa – The Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team took the first set against St. Ambrose University, but weren’t able to keep control dropping the men’s volleyball contest 3-1 to the Bees. Errors seemed to be the biggest problem for the Wolves who struggled to take advantage of their hitting opportunities.
The first set remained neck and neck until Stritch finally put the game away on two serves by Vladmir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia). The 6-4 sophomore contributed eight kills in the set, while Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.) added five kills. The pair also combined for the only block of the first game.
The Wolves did not have a great start to the second set, quickly going down 10-5, and at one point trailing by 14. A late attempt at a comeback fell short, as Stritch fell to St. Ambrose 30-19.
Stritch hitters were dominated during the third set, as St. Ambrose players racked up ten blocks. Eight service errors and twenty total hitting errors gave the Bee’s 28 of their thirty points.
The Wolves put up a fight in the fourth and final set of the night, but ended up losing 30-28. St. Ambrose pulled ahead early, but Stitch found a spark after a kill by Scott Golden (Vernon Hills, Ill.) made the score 19-13 in favor of the Bees. The 6-5 outside hitter then went on to serve seven straight points, giving the Wolves a fighting chance by tying the score, 20-20. St. Ambrose proved to be too strong, eventually pulling away to beat the Wolves 30-27.
Frenc led Stritch with 15 kills and seven digs. Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.) added 11 kills to the losing effort, while Christopher Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.) led the team defensively with 13 digs.
Zac Krumlinde (Channahon, Ill.) led St. Ambrose, contributing 16 kills and six block assists. Kyle Warrenfeltz (Barrington, Ill.) added 12 kills and ten digs for the Bees. Kyle Bolinder (Barrington, Ill.) recorded 13 digs on the night.
The loss drops Stritch to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in the MAMVIC. St. Ambrose improves to 8-4 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
The Wolves travel to Dubuque, Iowa on Friday, Feb. 13 to face conference for Clarke at 7:00 p.m.
Stritch Men’s Volleyball Has Big WeekendWolves knock off top-ranked Park University
Feb. 7, 2009
St. Charles, Mo. – The Cardinal Stritch University Wolves men’s volleyball program had a strong weekend at the Lindenwood University Volleyball Invitational. The Wolves scored three victories in the tournament, notching wins against Hope International 3-1, Warner Southern 3-2, Park University 3-0. The only loss of the tournament came to California Baptist 0-3. Stritch’s biggest victory of the tournament came over the No. 1-ranked Park University.
In game one of the tournament, the Wolves knocked off Hope International, 3-1, by scores of 30-20, 26-30, 30-16, and 30-27. In the match, Austin Cass (Madison, Wis.) led all Stritch players with 22 kills on 31 attempts. Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) contributed to the effort with 12 kills on 22 attempts. The offense was set up well all day by Garret Payne (San Diego, Calif.) and Brad Riding-Connors (Chicago, Ill.). Payne registered 45 assists in the game while Riding-Connors added 12 assists on 15 sets. Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia) paced the way in serving with five aces against Hope.
The win for the Wolves not only improved their overall record to 4-1, but also set them up well for a showdown against No. 1-ranked Park University.
Playing in perhaps their most important match of the season, the Wolves played one of their best matches against the top-ranked Pirates. Not given much of a chance to win, Stritch came out playing free and on top of their game to not only claim a 3-0 victory with scores of 30-23, 30-19, and 30-26, but also break a couple of major streaks that the Pirates currently had.
Senior Jake Cosson (West Allis, Wis.) had a big game for the Wolves as he notched 15 kills on 17 attempts. The Wolves’ captain also played great defense as he contributed on five block assists in the match. Chris Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.) was also strong defensively by adding seven digs. Jankovic continued his good offense, adding 12 kills on 17 attempts to add another aspect to the Stritch attack.
The offense was able to carry over a strong effort from the first match into the match against Park thanks in part to the continued consistency by Payne and Riding-Connors. The duo combined for 39 assists in the victory.
The win over Park ended the Pirates’ NAIA-best 25-match winning streak. It was the first time Park had lost to any opponent since Feb. 16, 2008 when they lost to NCAA Division I Indiana University Purdue University at Fort Wayne (IPFW). It also marked their first NAIA loss since 2007 when they lost to California Baptist in the NAIA National Invitational Tournament championship game.
Riding high, the Wolves closed out the second day by going 1-1 with a win over Warner Southern by scores of 28-30, 30-22, 25-30, 30-18, and 15-13. Stritch closed the day by falling to California Baptist 25-30, 31-33, and 19-30.
At the end of the tournament, the Wolves improved their overall record to 6-2 and their conference record to 2-1. Next up, Stritch will head to Davenport, Iowa to take on St. Ambrose University on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m.
Wolves Take Down Titans in FiveStritch Still in Search of Consistent PlayJan. 30, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Cardinal Stritch University men’s volleyball team faced an always competitive University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh team in an exhibition match on Friday night. The Wolves started out strong, winning the first two sets, but Oshkosh put up a fight, taking the match to five games before bowing to Stritch 15-12.
Stritch took the first two sets 30-25, with impressive contributions by Matt Tauaese (Pomona, Calif.) and Vladimir Frenc (Belgrade, Serbia), who added nine and 11 kills in the sets, respectively.
After winning the first two sets, the Wolves hoped to close quickly in the third, but Oshkosh took an early lead, which they held until late in the game. Stritch made a strong attempt at a comeback, hoping to end the night early, but Oshkosh was able to hold on, winning 36-34. The fourth set was much of the same, as the Titans continued to control the match, and won easily, 30-23.
Stritch got back on track in the fifth set. Good defense and help from the Titans, who gave Stritch eight points on errors, took the Wolves to a 15-12 win.
The Wolves were led by Frenc, who had 22 kills and 6 digs. Tauaese added 15 kills. Garret Payne (San Diego, Calif.) earned 47 assists on the night, while Christopher Arquilla (Willow Springs, Ill.) had a team-high nine digs. Mirko Jankovic (Podgorica, Montenegro) dominated at the net, registering two solo blocks and five block assists.
Stritch will spend the majority of February on the road. The team heads to St. Charles, Mo. on Feb. 6, to play Hope International and Park at the Lindenwood Invitational.
Stritch Takes Hard Fought MatchMiddles Dominate Against MSOE