The Brock men’s volleyball team showed fortitude throughout the match as they trailed by multiple points in every set.
After a tough 3-1 loss the night prior, the Badgers bounced back with a 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-19, 25-23) over the Trent Excalibur at the Trent Athletics Centre on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Third-year outside hitter Devin Cooney and fifth-year outside hitter Nanle Yusuf stepped up for the Badgers with 15.5 points each. Cooney earned his points from 15 kills and 0.5 blocks while Yusuf put up 14 kills and a solo block.
In the first set, the Badgers found themselves down by four points at multiple times. After a timeout was called when they were down 18-14, the Badgers rattled off four straight to tie it up before seeing Cooney notch his seventh kill of the set to win it 25-23.
Brock saw their deficit get as large as six in the second set. Displaying resilience once again, the Badgers chipped away at the lead as they held the hosts to a -0.30 hitting percentage en route to 22-10 run and a 25-19 victory.
The Badgers hit their highest percentage of the match in a frame with a .323 which propelled them to a comeback 25-23 win, with a service ace from Liam Strong ending the match.
Controlling multiple hitting categories, the Badgers outhit the Excalibur in kills 42-34 and in hitting percentage as they managed a .260 to the hosts’ .121.
Second-year setter Adam Shapcott led all players in assists with 34.
Up next, the Badgers play the rest of their regular season games at home at Bob Davis Gymnasium and that will start with a clash with the York Lions on Friday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. Get your tickets at brocku.universitytickets.com and watch the game on OUA.tv. The Badgers defeated the Lions in their last matchup on Nov. 5, 2023, in four sets (25-198, 25-23, 24-26, 25-17).