SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The Indiana Tech men's volleyball team opened the 2024 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference campaign with a road trip north, going 1-1 with a 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 15-17, 25-11) win over Siena Heights University on Friday and a 3-1 (-) loss to Lawrence Tech on Saturday afternoon. The Orange and Black move to 6-1 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.
 
In their first conference match of the season on Friday, the Orange and Black took care of business in four sets. In the first set, the Warriors sprinted to a seven-point lead as they opened on an 8-1 run.  The Saints responded with their own run to cut the lead to three. Unfortunately for the hosts, the Warriors' ability to continually go on 3-0 and 4-0 runs never allowed the Saints away back in as the guests took set one 25-16. The second set went toe-to-toe right to the end, but trailing 22-23, the Warriors couldn't muster anything to regain the advantage as the hosts held on to take the set 25-22. The third set had a similar start to the second as both teams lobbied for any advantage. For the Warriors, that came in the form of a 14-3 run to claim the set 25-16. The fourth set was even through the opening four points, but Tech took off with a 7-0 run, which set the tone for the rest of the set as the Warriors went on to win 25-11 and claim the match 3-1.
 
On Saturday at Lawrence Tech, the Warriors were dealt their first loss of the season by the Blue Devils. The first set was a battle at the start, with the hosts taking a 13-9 lead in the early stages. A quick 4-0 run from the Warriors in response leveled the game and forced a timeout from the Blue Devils. It proved to be a well-used timeout by the hosts as they went on a 12-3 run to take the first set 25-16. Although the guests kept the second set close and forced multiple ties, the Warriors never led in the second set as the Blue Devils took it 25-19. It seemed like the third set would copy the second as the Blue Devils were reluctant to relinquish a lead through the opening stages, but trailing 16-20, the Orange and Black went on an 8-1 run to take a 24-21 lead. Just one point from taking the set, the Warriors couldn't find the finisher as the hosts drew level at 24 before the Warriors finally put the set to rest with a block from Logan Gamero and Daynte Stewart, winning 26-24. The Warriors struck first in the fourth set, but Lawrence Tech took over from there as a 7-1 run gave them momentum, carrying them to a 25-13 fourth-set win to claim the match.
 
The Warriors are back home to take on Goshen College in their next game on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.