SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Lawrence Tech hit .366 as a team and used a balanced attack from Gustavo Machado and Mario Cid to earn a 3-1 victory over Indiana Tech in a WHAC men's volleyball matchup Tuesday night at Don Ridler Field House. The Blue Devils won by set scores of 25-19, 25-27, 25-19, 26-24.
Machado and Cid anchored a Lawrence Tech offense that finished with 55 kills and 50 assists, consistently applying pressure at the net. Machado totaled 16 kills on .440 hitting to go with two service aces and seven digs, while Cid added 15 kills on a .407 clip, nine digs and three blocks for a match-high 19.5 points. The Blue Devils also held a decisive 6-2 edge in solo blocks and outscored Indiana Tech 101-89 across the four sets.
Lawrence Tech set the tone early in the first set, siding out efficiently and pulling away late behind Machado's arm. With the Blue Devils closing in on the opener, Machado hammered a kill to seal the 25-19 result and give Lawrence Tech the 1-0 lead. The hosts hit at a high percentage out of system and used tough serving to keep Indiana Tech from mounting extended runs.
Indiana Tech answered in a back-and-forth second set that extended past 25 points. The Warriors rode the play of outside hitter Logan Gieseke, who delivered multiple late kills, including the set-ending swing in a 27-25 decision that evened the match at 1-1. Despite the setback, Lawrence Tech continued to control the stat sheet, limiting its attack errors and maintaining an efficient side-out rate.
The Blue Devils regained control in the third, again winning 25-19 behind a key serving run from Machado. The outside picked up a service ace and several kills during a pivotal stretch that opened up a multi-point cushion the Warriors could not erase. Lawrence Tech's block, led by Cid at the pin and middle blocker Yegor Volkov, helped slow Indiana Tech's attack enough to tilt momentum back to the home side.
The fourth set was the tightest of the match, with Indiana Tech leaning on standout attacker Dylan Poore to stay within striking distance. Poore finished with a match-best 21 points and 20 kills on .317 hitting, but Lawrence Tech's balanced offense and timely defense proved decisive. With the Blue Devils on match point in extra points, Volkov delivered the final kill to close out a 26-24 win and secure the 3-1 victory.
Statistically, Lawrence Tech finished with advantages in kills (55-48), hitting percentage (.366 to .226), assists (50-45), digs (35-34) and blocks (6-2 in solo blocks). Both teams recorded six service aces, with the Blue Devils' aggressive serving helping to generate transition opportunities despite 19 service errors. The Blue Devils will be back in action this Friday as they host #11 Lourdes University in another conference matchup.
