Kupiec has Triple-Double in Loss to NCC

February 8, 2017Posted in: Athletics

The Illinois Tech Men’s Volleyball team played host to the Cardinals of North Central College in the back end of a Women’s Basketball/Men’s Volleyball doubleheader on February 7 in the Keating Sports Center. Illinois Tech battled the Cardinals neck-and-neck for most of the night, but came away short in four sets.

Set Scores

North Central 3, Illinois Tech 1 (15-25, 25-18, 18-25, 20-25)

How it Happened

  • It was a sluggish start to the night for the Scarlet Hawks, as Illinois Tech hit -.107% in the first set and trailed for most of the set’s entirety. North Central utilized a 6-0 run late to build a 23-13 lead before closing the set out shortly after.
  • The Scarlet Hawks flipped the script in set two. After NCC took a small 5-4 lead, Illinois Tech went on a 7-0 run to go up 11-5. The Cardinals were able to pull to within one on three separate occasions, but the Scarlet Hawks put together a 6-0 run highlighted by three Lukasz Kupiec kills. Another Kupiec kill gave Illinois Tech its 25th and final point in the set victory.
  • Set three started much like set two ended, as the Scarlet Hawks went up 8-3 behind two Yuriy Shepta kills and forced the Cardinals to call two timeouts within the game’s first 11 points. NCC, however, found a second gear, going on an 8-2 run to take a lead. The Cardinals never looked back en route to the set three win.
  • In set four, the Scarlet Hawks ended up taking the earliest significant advantage at 12-9. The Cardinals responded with an 8-1 run to take a 18-14 lead, but Illinois Tech came back to pull to within one at 24-20. However, the Cardinals took advantage of three attack errors down the stretch to clinch the match.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

  • Kupiec recorded a triple-double with 11 kills, 13 assists, and 11 digs. His .320 hitting percentage also led Illinois Tech. It was his fourth straight double-double.
  • Andrew Woltman led the team with 16 assists.
  • Derek Bostick tallied a match-high 17 digs.
  • David Allen tallied eight kills and nine digs.

Stats to Know

  • Illinois Tech had more kills (38-37), but hit .037% compared to NCC’s .171%.
  • Illinois Tech out dug the Cardinals 55-51.
  • NCC’s advantages in blocks (5 solo, 11 assisted compared to Illinois Tech’s two solo, four assisted) and aces (6-2) were instrumental to the Cardinals’ win.

Up Next

  • The Scarlet Hawks will head to St. Louis on Friday, February 10 to take on the Fontbonne University Griffins at 5 p.m. Live video and stats will be available courtesy of Fontbonne.
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