SYLVANIA, Ohio (LourdesAthletics.com) -- The Lourdes University men's volleyball team dropped their 2025 season opener in straight sets (19-25, 22-25, 17-25) to Olivet-Nazarene University on Thursday night inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.
The match was the third of the opening day of the 2025 Men's Volleyball Gray Wolf Invitational. The opening match featured Hope International University and Olivet-Nazarene, where the Tigers topped the Royals in a five-set thriller. The University of Jamestown then defeated Campbellsville University in four sets during the second match of the day, ahead of the Lourdes' game.
The Gray Wolves (0-1) battled throughout the match but were unable to overcome the efficient offensive attack of the Tigers (2-0). Olivet-Nazarene hit .409 as a team, compared to Lourdes' .156, while also holding advantages in blocks (10-2) and service aces (8-1).
Jaber Badarne led Lourdes offensively with 11 kills, while Felipe Tramontin added seven and Vinicius Lopez contributed five. Setter Joey Bianco distributed 25 assists while also recording the Gray Wolves' lone service ace. Defensively, Brayden Moyars tallied a team-high five digs, while Jack McMurray and Badarne chipped in four each.
The Gray Wolves stayed close in the opening set, hitting .318, but struggled to maintain that efficiency in the final two frames as the Tigers' defensive pressure increased. Lourdes' best chance came in the second set, where they held a brief lead but were unable to capitalize on key opportunities late.
Up Next:
The men will take the court again in the second day of the Gray Wolf Invitational, this time against
