LC Men's Volleyball:  Lincoln Stays Hot with Win at LBU

[February 21, 2019] 

It took five sets for the Lincoln College Men’s Volleyball team to defeat Lindenwood-Belleville University on Tuesday evening and extend their winning streak to six games in-a-row. The victory improved the team’s record to 8-3 on the season.

Lindenwood came out strong in the first set of the match, to win it 25-19. Lincoln College had a hard time adjusting to the LBU pace of attack in that opening set, but was able to solve that mystery effectively in set two to win it easily 25-15.

Set three saw the two teams battle back and forth throughout with neither being able to put together an extended run of points. Lincoln would eventually earn a 22-20 lead on a kill by right side hitter Greg Scott (North Chicago). Scott’s kill was followed by back-to-back Lindenwood hitting errors to give LC their first set point opportunity. However, three straight points for LBU narrowed LC’s lead to just one at 24-23. The comeback bid would end there though as the next Lindenwood serve attempt did not clear the net giving the Lynx a 25-23 set three win.

In set four, Lincoln looked to end the match, but a rash of hitting errors in the middle of the set helped put LBU up 15-10. LC was unable to recover and had to settle for a 25-19 defeat which sent the match to a deciding set to 15.

The final set began with a kill by LBU which was immediately answered by a strong swing from LC middle hitter Deantrius Coleman (North Chicago) for a kill to even the score and send outside hitter Ramon Matos (Chicago) behind the service line.

Matos would deliver four straight points which staked LC to a 5-1 lead. Lincoln College went on to side out efficiently and maintain their lead the rest of the way for a 15-11 set five win to take the match.

Ramon Matos led Lincoln with 16 kills on the night. Junior right side hitter Charles Carter (Blue Island) also reached double-digits in kills with 13. Senior Corey Poindexter (Overland, MO) had eight kills and eight digs, while fellow senior Deantrius Coleman was good for seven kills and four blocked shots. The setting duo of Nicholas Washington (St. Louis) and Bryan Orellana (Chicago) combined for 28 set assists in all.

Lincoln Coach Mark Tippett continues to be impressed by his team’s ability to win close matches. “This was the fourth time this season we have had to go five sets to win a match,” said Tippett. “We have had a knack for playing our best ball early in deciding sets to 15, which is an indication that we are physically strong and mentally tough enough to go the distance.”

LC will try to keep their winning streak alive on Thursday evening when they host Robert Morris University for a 6:30 PM match.

[Mark Tippett
Lincoln College
Sports Information]