Seventh-ranked Lourdes saw its 2021 men's volleyball season come to an end on Thursday afternoon as the Gray Wolves dropped a 25-22, 25-17, 25-21 decision to second-ranked Benedictine Mesa to conclude pool play at the NAIA National Championships inside of the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
 
"This was a tough match to end on," head coach Greg Reitz said afterwards.  "We didn't play our best volleyball and that is what it was going to take to beat an opponent of such quality.  We only got a few opportunities to earn extra points and we didn't take advantage of them."
 
Jeff Lam (Richmond, B.C./Hugh McRoberts H.S.) had a match-high 18 kills while hitting .326, but he was the lone Gray Wolf to tally double figures on the afternoon.
 
The Gray Wolves held a 12-9 lead in the opening set when the Redhawks went on a 6-2 run to take the lead for good.  Lourdes would pull within one, 19-18, but Benedictine Mesa answered with five of the next six points to secure the set one win.
 
In set two, Lourdes managed just seven kills and hit .000 while Benedictine Mesa swung at a .440 clip while putting down 14 kills.  The Gray Wolves jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the set before the Redhawks scored five straight points.  Lourdes held an 11-10 lead and was still within one, 14-13, when the undefeated Redhawks scored four unanswered points to pull away and build a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Benedictine Mesa (17-0) had 17 kills in the third but had to rally late to earn the sweep.  Lourdes led 14-11 and against 9-17 before the Redhawks closed the match scoring eight of the final 10 points.
 
Lourdes hit just .160 for the afternoon with Henrique Gehrke (Blumenau, Brazil/Escola Barao Do Rio Branco) directing the offense and handing out 28 assists.  Ricardo Gehrke (Blumenau, Brazil/Escola Barao Do Rio Branco) added eight kills as he and Lam combined for 26 of the team's 33 total kills.
 
Defensively, Guga Heidrich (Braco do Norte, Brazil/Colegio Unificado) had a match-high nine digs while Harrison McBean (Melbourne, Australia/Northern College of the Arts) added four blocks.
 
Landon Fuller led Benedictine Mesa with 13 kills and hit .458 while Charles Pollnow added 12 kills.  Bromley Udall directed the offense that handed out 31 assists.
 
"This was a pretty good run considering all that went into competing this season," Reitz added.  "I am proud of the effort put forth by these men and thankful for the opportunity to go to battle with them."
 
Benedictine Mesa advances to Friday's national semifinals where the Redhawks will face Vanguard.