Rams rally late, knock off Rio men

Rio Grande Sports Information
     BLUEFIELD, Va. - Bluefield University rallied to force a fifth set and then trailed just once in the deciding stanza, posting a 14-25, 25-16, 22-25, 27-25, 15-10 triumph over the University of Rio Grande, Tuesday night, in non-conference men's volleyball action at the Dome Gymnasium.
     The host Rams pushed their season record to 2-1 with the victory.
     Rio Grande suffered a third straight loss and dropped to 1-4.
     The RedStorm appeared well on their way to a victory with a 2-1 sets lead and 24-22 advantage in the fourth period after a kill by senior Caden Donaldson (Jackson, OH).
     Bluefield scored three consecutive winners to force a set point of their own, but another Donaldson kill knotted the score at 25-all.
     The Rams forced the deciding stanza, though, thanks to back-to-back kills by Kyle Pietzrak.
     Bluefield scored the first point of set five, but Rio responded with consecutive winners to grab a quick 2-1 lead.
     The Rams recorded each of the next two points, though, and never trailed again.
     The RedStorm did forge ties at 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-all, but failed to regain any advantage down the stretch. The hosts wrapped up the match by scoring five of the final six winners.
     Pietzrak had 17 kills and four service aces to lead Bluefield, while Mason Lloyd and Noah Clements added 12 kills each to the winning effort.
     Benedict Somes tallied 40 assists for the Rams, while Colby Mutter had 12 digs and General Smith was credited with two solo blocks and seven block assists.
     Donaldson shared match-high honors and had 17 kills to lead Rio Grande, while freshman Otavio Tonoli (Compinas, Brazil) added 15 kills. Donaldson and Tonoli also had 13 and 10 digs, respectively.
     Sophomore Mitch Bartecki (Valparaiso, IN) had a match-best 45 assists in a losing cause, with junior Seth Mohr tallying 12 digs and junior Tyler Miller-Bross (Loveland, OH) recording a trio of block assists.
     Rio Grande returns to action, Feb. 9-10, as part of the Adidas Game-One Pilot Invitational hosted by Bethel University in Mishawka, Ind.