Pioneers Stumble Against the Crusaders

Pioneers Stumble Against the Crusaders

BELMONT, N.C. --- The Tusculum men's volleyball team dropped its match at Belmont Abbey on Saturday afternoon in straight sets.

The Crusaders (2-3) won by scores of 25-15, 25-15, 25-23 to sweep the youthful Pioneers (1-5).

Belmont Abbey racked up eight kills from Gage Giller. Carter Eck and William Morris collected five kills apiece at a fiery rate, .571 and .500, respectively. Brennan Davis handed out 18 assists and, at the line, Eck led the Crusaders with a pair of aces. Davis also headed up the dig category with his seven. Four players for Belmont Abbey notched two total blocks: Davis, Giller, Riley Mulkey, and Andrew Kohut.

Once again, Matteo Miselli led the Pioneer attack, totaling a team-high four kills. Arthur Amorim added three to the effort. Shaun Kampshoff and Lucas Blanco split the setting duties, recorded eight and six, respectively. Miselli (3) and Shaphar Grant (2) collected every ace for Tusculum. A team-leading seven digs came off of the arms of Kampshoff, followed by six from Miselli. Amorim was a force at the net and is credited with five total blocks (one solo, four assists). Kampshoff and Hunter Walck also made a dent in the Crusader attack with three block assists each.

Belmont Abbey finished the match with a .183 hitting percentage with 28 kills and 15 errors in 71 total attempts. TU tallied 17 kills, 24 errors, and 70 attacks for a -.100 hitting percentage. The Pioneers led the Crusaders in aces (5-3) and total blocks (9-6), while the home team held the advantage in assists (23-17) and digs (27-23).

Tusculum returns home after a week layoff to face the Rams of Bluefield College on Saturday the 25th. First serve is scheduled for 2pm.