GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The No. 5-ranked Indiana Tech men' volleyball team (16-1, 8-1 WHAC) took their first loss of the season dropping 3-1 to (RV) Aquinas (11-6, 6-4 WHAC). Earlier in the season when the two teams met, the Warriors won 3-1.
 
Daynte Stewart and Mason Milan tied for a team high nine kills while Milan also notched six digs, three assists and one serving ace. Chase Christiansen had five blocks on the day while Joey Hermes added 14 digs and Brandon Jones dished out 37 assists surpassing 1,000 for his career.  
 
The Warriors got out to an early 6-3 lead to start the contest before the hosts went on to score the next six points to take the lead 9-6. Both teams went back and forth the remainder of the set, seeing five ties and three lead changes. Tech held a late 17-15 lead into the set before the Saints came back firing five straight points to take the lead 20-17. After an Indiana Tech timeout, the Orange and Black scored two points with a kill by Stewart on an assist by Jones and an error to close the gap 20-18. It was not enough as Aquinas made another scoring run and went on to win the set.
 
The two teams traded points a majority of the second set, having 12 ties and six lead changes. After things were tied up at 11, the Saints went on to score three straight points before the Warriors answered back with a 5-2 run to make things even again at 16. Aquinas took the first point after the tie, but the Orange and Black continued to fight as they went on to score the next three points forcing an Aquinas timeout. After the timeout, the two teams went point-for-point until Tech gained the advantage 24-20 and ended the set with a Milan kill to end things 25-21.
 
Aquinas took control in the third and fourth set with there being only a total of two lead changes and four ties. The only lead the Warriors saw in the third set was the first point of the set. After that, the points went back and forth but the Saints did not let the visitors gain an advantage and eventually went on to score five straight points to end the third set. The fourth set proved to not be much of a different story. Aquinas got out to a dominant 18-8 lead forcing an Indiana Tech timeout. However, after the timeout, the Saint's dominance continued by allowing the Warriors to score only 16 points in the set.
 
Tech will be back in action March 1 at 7 p.m. as they take on Wabash College at the Chadwick Court in Crawfordsville, Ind.