Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Lawrence Technological University men's volleyball team won both of its matches at day two of the Men's Michigan Volleyball Invitational (MMVI) on Saturday. The Blue Devils' first match was against Olivet Nazarene who they beat in four sets (25-20, 25-14, 27-29, 25-19) before sweeping Cumberland (25-21, 25-13, 25-22).

Match One vs Olivet Nazarene:

First Set:

• Tigers' service error cuts the Blue Devils' deficit to three at 13-10
• LTU retakes the lead on a 7-2 run at 19-16
• ONU kept it close at 22-20 but a JT McCarthy service ace closed out the set 25-20

Second Set:

• Felix Perez service ace gives LTU a 17-7 advantage after a 7-1 run
• ONU cut the margin to single digits at 21-14
• LTU ends the set with four straight points, including two more McCarthy service aces, to win it 25-14

Third Set:

• Simon Phillip finds Jeffry Fuhrmann to give LTU a slim 12-11 lead
• The teams continue to trade points as a Zach Narkiewicz kill reties the set at 21-21
• LTU staved off three match points before an ONU kill gave them a 29-27 win

Fourth Set:

• Perez kill put LTU up 13-9 before ONU retakes lead at 14-13
• A 9-0 LTU run opens the gap to 10 at 23-13
• The Tigers trimmed the deficit in half at 24-19 before Perez finished off the set

Inside the Numbers:

51 – Assists by Phillip

17 – Kills by Fuhrmann, match-high (also swung it at a .538 clip)

12 – Service aces for LTU

Match Two vs Cumberland:

First Set:

• McCarthy kill makes it 11-8 LTU before ONU reties set at 13-13
• Blue Devils answer with four straight, capped by a Phillip kill
• Perez finish extends lead to six, 23-17, before ONU error closes out set 25-21

Second Set:

• Fuhrmann finish gives LTU 13-9 advantage
• McCarthy service ace doubles margin to eight at 19-11
• Blue Devils close out set with four straight blocks, capped off by two Fuhrmann kills (25-13)

Third Set:

• Connor Cooper kill cuts margin to one at 13-12 to jump start 7-2 run that puts LTU up 18-15
• Three straight ONU errors hold LTU lead at four, 22-18
• Tigers knock it to two, 23-21, but an Ian Marquez kill and another ONU error ends the set 25-22

Inside the Numbers:

28 – Assists by Phillip

13 – Total blocks by LTU

9 – Digs by Collin Holt

 The Blue Devils return to action on Wednesday, January 19^th for their home opener versus Trine at 7pm.