SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - Lawrence Tech delivered a dominant offensive performance in a straight-sets sweep of Defiance College, winning 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-16) on Friday night at Don Ridler Fieldhouse in Southfield, Mich. The Blue Devils overpowered the Yellow Jackets at the net, hitting .604 as a team while limiting Defiance to a .000 attack percentage.
Lawrence Tech controlled the opening set from the midpoint on, using a surge of kills from Mario Cid and Akram Askoul to push the lead into double digits. With the Blue Devils firmly in front, Noah Lippman capped the frame at 25-14 with a kill off a set from Aguiar, establishing the tone for the match. Defiance struggled to generate consistent offense early, managing just 14 points and never mounting a substantial run.
The second set followed a similar script as the Blue Devils' balance at the pins continued to create problems for the Yellow Jackets. Lippman sparked separation with a service ace and multiple kills as Lawrence Tech pulled away to a 22-11 advantage. Askoul then closed the door, putting away the final kill from Aguiar to secure a 25-15 decision and build a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
Defiance showed its best stretch to open the third set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead behind early kills from Philippe Meny. The Blue Devils quickly settled, however, regaining control with efficient side-out volleyball before turning the frame decisively in their favor. Cid took over down the stretch, registering multiple kills and a service ace during a closing run that turned a competitive set into a 25-16 clincher.
Cid led Lawrence Tech with 11 kills on 14 swings, hitting .786 and totaling 13.5 points with an ace, a solo block, three digs and an assist. Askoul provided another major option in the attack, finishing with 10 kills on a .692 hitting percentage and contributing on four block assists. Lippman added eight kills on 10 attempts to hit .800, pairing his offensive efficiency with a service ace and two block assists as part of a front-line group that produced six team blocks.
As a unit, the Blue Devils compiled 37 kills, five aces and 33 assists while committing only 12 attack errors on 53 swings. Their .604 hitting percentage underscored a consistent night in system and in transition. Defiance, by contrast, finished with 18 kills and 18 attack errors on 54 attempts to hit .000 and did not record a team block, though Meny and teammate Thaddeus Setla provided bright spots with six and five kills, respectively.
With the sweep, Lawrence Tech showcased a high-efficiency attack and balanced scoring that should provide momentum heading deeper into the season.
