URBANA, Ohio – Urbana men's volleyball stormed back to force a deciding set but fell short against Wittenberg Tuesday night in the Grimes Center, 25-22, 25-20, 18-25, 18-25, 15-11. It was the first five-setter of the season for the Blue Knights.
Jack Brinkman produced a career-high 18 kills and nine digs to lead the comeback effort along with setter
Chaz Hafer's career-best 42 assists.
Liam Morrissey chipped in with nine kills and six digs while
Kurt Klamfoth had five kills and 3.5 blocks.
Urbana (0-6) was outhit by the visitors .212 to .229 while racking up 52 kills but committing 27 errors. Wittenberg, who was playing its season opener, totaled 49 kills and 25 errors. The Blue Knights had a season-high seven aces, including two each from Brinkman, Hafer and
Tyler Chavez.
Dropping the first two sets in disappointing fashion, the Blue Knights regrouped to pull a close win in the third while hitting nearly .500 during the frame. Hafer's block put UU on top 12-11 and his kill two points later provided the first two-point lead in the third set for either side. Brinkman made it 19-16 and then Urbana avoided the sweep by closing on a 6-2 run. Klamfoth registered the set-clinching point.
In the fourth, Urbana still didn't give in after going down 7-3 early. The Blue Knights eventually got rolling as kills from Hafer and
Tomas Beralas ignited an impressive 14-2 run. Brinkman put Urbana up 17-9 with a kill and the Blue Knights cruised to force the fifth set.
Wittenberg (1-0) raced out to another early lead in the final set at 8-3, but Urbana had another answer to get back within one when a solo block by Klamfoth made it 9-8. However, the Tigers would seal the match by outscoring the Blue Knights 6-3 down the stretch.
Tyler Jackson had 14 kills and Russell Burke had 10 to pace the Tigers. Witt's libero Fred Halper collected 13 digs.
UP NEXT: Urbana will have over a week off before its next match on Friday, Jan. 24 at nationally-ranked Lewis (IL). The Blue Knights won't return home until Sunday, Feb. 9 for a tri-match against Daemen and Lincoln Memorial.
