ROCHESTER HILLS, MICH – The 11^th- ranked Lourdes men's volleyball team (10-2) (7-1 in WHAC), beat No. 6 Lawrence Tech three sets to one and swept Rochester Christian this weekend.

The Gray Wolves are on a six game winning streak, becoming the first WHAC team to reach 10 wins and placing them alone in second place in the conference. Lourdes is a game back from Bethel, who they lost to a few weeks ago, and a game up on Lawrence Tech, who they upset on Friday.

Game 1: Lawrence Tech
The Terracotta & Gray went on the road and dismantled the No. 6 team in the country in an enormous four-set upset victory. The win almost guarantees the Gray Wolves will be in the top-10 rankings with a win over Goshen next Tuesday.

Lourdes dropped the first set 23 to 25 to start the match in a 0-1 hole. The Blue Devils had a pair of 3-0 runs in the middle of the set that helped them to slightly break away from Lourdes.

Despite the first set loss, senior outside hitter Jaber Badarne had a good set for Lourdes with three kills. Badarne once again led the team in kills with 19 in the match.

The second set was much more in Lourdes' favor as the Gray Wolves won in blowout fashion 25 to 15. Lawrence Tech was actually up 11-7 before Lourdes went on an 8-4 run to tie the set at 15 apiece. With sophomore outside hitter Felipe Tramontin at the service line, Lourdes ended the set on a 9-0 run. Tramontin ended the set on an ace and had four aces total in the match. Senior setter Joey Bianco had five set assists during the run as well. He led the game with 41 assists, his first 40-assist match of the year.

The third set ended in a 25 to 23 Lourdes victory, breaking the tie and giving Lourdes the 2-1 advantage going into the fourth set. Lourdes started off the set on a 5-0 run which set the tone for the offense. Lawrence Tech was able to crawl back into the game, however, taking the lead at 23 to 22 late in the set.

Lourdes ended the set on a sequence of a Jaber Badarne kill, a Trace Bauersfeld block, and a Brayden Moyars ace. Bauersfeld had a season-high three blocks in the match from the middle blocker position.

The final set clinched the upset victory via a 25 to 20 Lourdes win. The two squads quite literally traded points throughout the entire set until the score was a 19 to 18 Lourdes lead.  The match defining run came when Lourdes ended the match winning six of eight points.

Game 2: Rochester Christian
Going from playing the No. 6 team in the country to playing last-place Rochester Christian could have been a trap game for the Gray Wolves if they played with less energy. However, there was absolutely no letting up from the Lourdes offense as they steamrolled to a 25-17, 25-13, 25-18 victory.

Lourdes had a +14 kill advantage over Rochester Christian in the match. They also had advantages in aces (+4), blocks (+4), set assists (+13), and digs (+13). Lourdes had an impeccable .382 attack percentage compared to the Warriors .040.

The underclassman played the match of their lives against the Warriors. Freshman Tsimafei Lesko had a career-high 18 kills, 20 total points, and two blocks in the match. Meanwhile, sophomore setter Evaristo Lopez Valeros posted career-highs in set assists (32), digs (5), kills (2), and service aces (2).

Senior middle blocker Ben Palma also had his best offensive game of the year, contributing two service aces and four blocks.

Next Up
Lourdes goes back home to defend the Ebeid Rec Center court against Goshen on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7pm.