CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The fourth-seeded Tusculum University men's volleyball team fell in the Independent Volleyball Association (IVA) Championship quarterfinals to No. 5 Maryville (Mo.) in five sets.

The Saints (11-16) used a late push to withstand the Pioneers (9-18) by scores of 26-24, 22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 16-14.

Joe Nicometo led Maryville with 20 kills in the match, ahead of Jayden Rookhuyzen's 14 and David Fleischer's 13. The latter hit .647 on 17 attempts. Cameron Chambers notched 51 assists, while Jacob Fischer tallied the lone service ace for the Saints. Both Rookhuyzen and Josh Zhuchenko finished with a team-best seven digs. At the net, Fleischer was credited with nine total blocks (all assists).

Tusculum was powered by a career-high 24 kills from Jake Whyte, firing on a .435 clip. Colby Landry contributed 15, while Taylor West added a collegiate-best 11 (.318) in his hitting role. Jaden Bramhall dished out 55 assists, tying his best thus far. Whyte landed the only Pioneer ace of the day. Defensively, Matt Moore shattered the single-match digs record with 18. Shaphar Grant had a hand in all four TU blocks against the Saints (two solo, two assists).

Maryville hit .336 as a team with 65 kills and 20 errors on 134 total attempts. Tusculum averaged .307 with 68 kills, 25 errors, and 140 total attacks. The Pioneers led the match in assists (61-54) and digs (43-34), while the Saints tallied more total blocks (12-4). The teams each recorded one service ace.

Tusculum will face sixth-seeded Alderson Broaddus in the IVA Championship fifth place match on Saturday (Apr. 15) at 11 a.m., hosted by Queens University of Charlotte.