STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point men's volleyball team (2-2) concluded its season-opening four-match homestand with a 3-1 loss to visiting Marian (4-1).
Josh Brogren (Elkhorn, Wis./Elkhorn Area) posted his second double-double of the season with team-highs in assists, 23, and digs, 13. He also had a season-high five kills.
Zach Meyers (Bristol, Wis./Westosha Central) led the Pointers with 10 kills.
Kyle Smith (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) racked up a game-high seven blocks.
Andy Sanchez (Mesa, Ariz./Desert Ridge) was also in double figures with 13 digs.
Meyers had a kill and an ace early as UWSP opened the match up 3-1. Smith and
Wren Dietz (Burlington, Wis./Burlington) had an ace each and a kill by
Spencer Baeckman (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) put UWSP ahead, 9-5. Meyers had two more kills, but a 4-0 burst by the Sabres tied the set at 14-14. Brogren and Smith combined on a block to give UWSP a 21-19 lead late. Marian scored the final six points to take the set, 25-21.
Dylan Niznik (Antioch, Ill./Antioch Community) had a kill and served an ace early for an 8-5 UWSP advantage. Meyers had a pair of kills and UWSP went on a 4-0 run while he was serving for a 14-9 lead. Smith and Brogren had two kills each to put the Pointers in front, 21-16. Niznik added a pair of late kills as the Pointers evened the match with a 25-21 set two win.
Smith had a block, a kill and an ace early as UWSP took a 6-4 lead. Marian used a 12-3 run to put the Pointers in a 16-9 hole. Meyers and Smith each had a kill down the stretch as Marian took the third set, 25-13.
Baeckman and Meyers combined for three kills as UWSP began the fourth in front, 4-1. Brogren had a pair of kills for a 9-7 lead. Smith had two kills and UWSP held a 19-17 advantage. Two kills by Niznik was all UWSP could muster late as Marian closed the match out with a 25-21 set win.
The Pointers will hit the road for the first time in program history on Saturday (Feb. 3) for a pair of matches at the St. Norbert Tournament. UWSP will face host SNC at 10:00 a.m. before taking on Augustana at 4:00 p.m.