Eagles Comeback Bid Fall Short Versus Ranked Redhawks

Elgin, IL - In an intense volleyball face-off on February 13, 2025, at the Lindner Fitness Center in Elgin, IL, the Judson University Eagles men's volleyball team endured a challenging loss. The Eagles fell to the #4 ranked Benedictine Mesa Redhawks with a final score of 3 sets to 1.

The Eagles kept the sets fiercely competitive, reflecting in the scores: 14-25, 20-25, 25-23, and a nail-biting 23-25 in the fourth set. Despite Judson's third set victory showing a formidable comeback, Benedictine Mesa held their ground to maintain their ranking and secured the match win.

Top performances from Judson included Elijah Gregg leading with 14 kills, followed by Mikey Noettl with 10 kills, and Noettl also managing to lead in serve aces with 3, tied with Grant Shipley.

Defensive efforts were notable as well, with Oracio Martinez achieving 8 digs. Assists were dominantly provided by Elijah Wrobel, who contributed a significant 35 assists throughout the match.

After a slow start to the match, once the Eagles found their footing, they were able to stand toe-to-toe with the visitors from Arizona. Perhaps this could be a huge building block for Judson, allowing them the confidence to compete with the best of the best.

With a narrow forth set loss, JU nearly had an opportunity to complete the reverse sweep against Benedictine. The key moment for Judson was their third set win, which highlighted their capability to regroup and challenge a top-ranked opponent effectively.

The Eagles' next challenge is scheduled for February 20, 2025, against Clarke. As they prepare, Judson holds a season record of 4 wins and 5 losses, eager to balance this tally in their upcoming contest.