Green Knights Register Program's First-Ever Win

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, January 18, 2020 | Men's Volleyball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

HIRAM, Ohio - St. Norbert College needed just three matches to earn the program's first-ever victory, needing five sets to top St. Vincent College at the Hiram College Invitational at Price Gymnasium. The Green Knights won by scores of 25-21, 21-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-5.

The Green Knights raced to a 5-0 lead in the decisive fifth set, with kills by Jake Bettag and Brent Hatfield and a service ace by Eddie Pacula during the run. St. Vincent cut the deficit to 8-5, but the Green Knights walked in the last seven points behind the serving of Ben Rinella. Josh Hauke had a pair of kills during the closing run.

St. Norbert held a lead for most of the opening set before pulling out to a 22-16 lead. The Green Knights trailed through most of the second and third sets to fall behind 2-1. The Green Knights took a 14-10 lead in the fourth set and never led by less than three the rest of the period.

The Green Knights hit .155, getting 45 kills against 28 errors in 110 attempts. Hauke registered 20 kills, while Bettag added seven. Rinella finished with 25 assists, while Pacula finished with 13. Rinella and Hauke each had a pair of service aces.

Hatfield was the only Green Knight to register double digits in digs with 11. Bettag and Hauke had four blocks apiece, while Chris Rosene and Rinella had two apiece.

St. Vincent hit .088 with 40 kills and 30 errors in 114 attempts. Mitchell Niderstros led the Bearcats with 17 kills.