Complete PDF Notes

Upcoming in Gray Wolves Volleyball: Lourdes wraps up a four-match homestand on Friday evening as the Gray Wolves welcome Saint Xavier to Tam-o-Shanter.  The match also marks the midway point in the Great Lakes Conference schedule for Lourdes, as the Gray Wolves will play four of their final five league contests away from home, and after Friday's match will play 10 of its next 11 matches overall on the road.

Head Coach Greg Reitz: In his third season both on the Lourdes bench, and overall coaching men's volleyball, Greg Reitz has a 37-22 (.627) record at the helm of the Gray Wolves.  He was named to the MAMVIC East Coach of the Year in 2012.  Reitz is the only head coach in Lourdes program's history.

Series Notes: Lourdes is 6-0 all-time against Saint Xavier dating back to Jan. 20, 2012, including a victory in its only match at Tam-o-Shanter.  Last year the Gray Wolves won 3-1 in Chicago, Ill. during the regular season and 3-0 in a match played at Springfield High School.  The two schools also met in the quarterfinals of the MAMVIC East tournament, with Lourdes again posting a 3-0 sweep.

Wrapping Up Last Week: The Gray Wolves began the week in convincing fashion on Wednesday evening with a 25-8, 25-13, 25-18 sweep of Siena Heights in their home opener.  Frank Craig hit .538 and tallied eight kills to lead the Gray Wolves.  Lourdes added a four-set victory, 25-19, 26-28, 25-20, 25-21, over Robert Morris (Ill.) on Friday evening to extend its winning streak.  Jo'Lon Clark tallied 18 kills while Julian Rivera hit .611 and Brad Miller tallied 16 digs to pace the Gray Wolves.  On Saturday Lourdes suffered its first Great Lakes Conference loss of the season, falling in five sets, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-10 to #9 Cardinal Stritch.  Craig had a team-high 20 kills and added eight blocks.

Scouting Saint Xavier: The Cougars are still looking for their first victory of the season after Tuesday evening's match at Lakeland was postponed due to weather.  Saint Xavier fell in three sets to #3 Missouri Baptist on Jan. 31 in its last time out.  Justin Cousin leads the Cougars with 60 kills on the season as well as a team-best 31 digs while Sam Kull is hitting a team-best .197.  Jacob Siska has handed out 165 assists and leads the team with eight service aces while J.T. O'Connell has a team-high 27 blocks.
 
Lourdes Picks Up Victory Via Forfeit: The Gray Wolves were notified last weekend that Missouri Valley College was forfeiting its match against Lourdes from Jan. 18 due to the use of an ineligible player.  The Vikings originally won the match in four sets, but the results now show Lourdes with a 3-0 victory.  All of the individual statistics from the match remain official though, as only the result changes.

Pair Swinging Well to Open Year: Chris Lockwood and Jo'Lon Clark are both swinging well offensively during the first third of the season for the Gray Wolves.  Lockwood has tallied 2.15 kills per set and is hitting a team-best .347 while Clark has a team-high 2.96 kills per set while hitting .297.  The Gray Wolves are hitting .223 as a team for the year, nearly identical to last season's .222 final mark.

Ferkel Earns First Collegiate Double-Double: Ryan Ferkel came off of the bench to play the final four sets against #9 Cardinal Stritch, recording his first collegiate double-double of his career.  The freshman handed out 32 assists and tallied 11 digs in the loss.  The only other double-double by a Gray Wolf this season was Jo'Lon Clark's 17-kill, 15-dig effort on Jan. 18 against #9 Missouri Valley.

Serving Up Aces: Lourdes tallied 61 total aces in the first seven matches of the season, an average of 2.35 per set, a mark that ranks second in all of NAIA Men's Volleyball.  The Gray Wolves have tallied at least nine aces in each of their last five contests.  Jo'Lon Clark ranks sixth nationally averaging 0.48 aces per set while Chris Lockwood has tallied a team-leading 12 aces.

Filling the Stat Sheet: Garrett Jones may not lead Lourdes in any one statistical category, but he compiles a variety of numbers for the Gray Wolves.  He has tallied 1.88 kills per set, 1.38 digs per set, and 0.54 blocks per set on the year while racking up 11 aces.

Playing Defense: Brad Miller ranks second nationally averaging 3.35 digs per set.  He has tallied 87 through the first seven contests, including double figure totals in five of the seven contests.  He had a season-high 17 digs in the match against Missouri Valley on Jan. 18.

Best Start in Program History: Lourdes 6-1 record through seven matches is its best start in the three years in which the men's volleyball program has been a varsity sport at the school.  The Gray Wolves were 3-4 in both 2012 and 2013 through seven contests, so even without the forfeit victory Lourdes would still be setting records.

Captains Named: Lourdes has announced tri-captains for the 2014 season.  Serving in that role are juniors Frank Craig, Brad Miller, and Jo'Lon Clark.

This and That: As a result of the forfeit victory, Lourdes tied a school record for longest winning streak, winning six straight from Jan. 17-31 ... Frank Craig has tallied a team-leading 23 blocks on the year ... Lourdes is outblocking its opponents 95-71 this season ... the Gray Wolves have had more aces than their opponent in all seven matches this season.