ADRIAN, Mich.--Redshirt junior Brendon Down and freshman Gustavo Machado (.481 attack percentage) spiked match highs of 17 and 16 kills, respectively, and five Blue Devils reached double digits in digs to pace the defense, as No. 14-ranked Lawrence Tech outlasted host Siena Heights in five sets in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference men's volleyball action on Fred Smith Court at the SHU Saints Field House on Tuesday night. The scores of the match were 25-16, 25-20, 21-25, 20-25, 15-13.

Lawrence Tech set a program record by reaching double-digit wins in the fewest matches, improving to 10-1 overall with its ninth-straight victory. The Blue Devils are now 6-1 in the WHAC, while the Saints are 5-7 on the season 3-5 in the conference.

Reigning WHAC Setter of the Week freshman Nathaniel Brownlee found the right attackers at the right time with 45 assists and he produced 12 digs. Graduate student Gustavo Heidrich led LTU's defensive effort with a match-best 17 digs, followed by Down with 12 digs for the double-double, graduate student Matheus Andrade also had 12 and Machado had 10 for another Blue Devils double-double. Sophomore Akram Askoul (10 kills, .563) also shined on defense with seven total blocks while Down turned away six.

Jonathan Stovring and Daniel Rua led SHU with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Zak Tucker added 37 assists, six service aces and 12 digs, while Marc Arsenault contributed nine kills, 11 digs and four block assists.

Lawrence Tech jumped out to a two-sets-to-none lead by outhitting SHU .467 to .267 in the opener and then .212-.000 in the second.

But in the third stanza, SHU cut the deficit to 2-1 by leading for most of the frame except for a 1-0 deficit and 21-all tie. The Saints scored the last four points.

In the fourth, SHU evened the match at two sets apiece by outhitting LTU .250 to .167.

Both schools struggled offensively in the decisive fifth set--both hitting in minus territory. But the Blue Devils never trailed, even taking a 9-2 lead. The Saints scored 10 of the next 14 points to get within 13-12. But kills by JT McCarthy (5 kills) and Machado sealed the victory.

Lawrence Tech hits the court again on Friday and Saturday, March 1-2, at Mount Vernon (Ohio) Nazarene University in a two-match WHAC series at Ariel Arena. The Cougars are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top-15 national rankings.