ROCKLIN, Calif. — Jessup University men's volleyball (7-14, 1-8 MPSF) secured the first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) win in program history by sweeping Menlo College (3-14, 2-6 MPSF) in straight sets inside Warrior Arena, 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-19).
Coming off back-to-back grueling five-set losses to Vanguard just a week prior, Jessup flipped the script and refused to let this one go the distance. The Warriors outplayed the Oaks in nearly every facet of the game, out-hitting Menlo .298 to .157, and utilizing a lethal service game that resulted in 9 aces compared to Menlo's 3.
Jessup was dialed in offensively from the opening serve, hitting a scorching .346 in the first set. The offensive onslaught was spearheaded by Jonas Müller, who was a nightmare for the Menlo defense. Müller tallied a match-high 13 kills, consistently finding the floor in crucial moments.
In the middle, Clement Osahon Jr. proved highly effective, converting his swings into 8 kills while adding a team-high 2 blocks to shut down the Oaks' attack. Outside hitter Jan Lopuch continued his strong season with 7 kills and 2 service aces.
Running the show for Jessup was setter Colin Marks, who orchestrated the historic win brilliantly. Marks dished out 33 assists, keeping the Menlo blockers guessing all night. But his impact wasn't just in his setting, Marks was an absolute menace from the service line, dealing a match-high 4 aces, and he paced the team defensively with 7 digs.
Defensively, Logan Marks helped anchor the back row with 4 digs alongside Osahon Jr., who also chipped in 4 digs of his own to keep the Oaks out of rhythm.
After battling point for point in two tightly contested 25-22 opening frames, the Warriors iced the matchup in the third set. Jessup stifled the Oaks' offense, holding them to a negative hitting percentage (-.037) in the final frame to cruise to a 25-19 set win and seal the sweep.
Head Coach Kyle Steele spoke about the monumental victory, "It was really good to finally get the monkey off of our back of getting our first conference win. I'm really proud of the boys for sticking with it." He continued, "We look forward to getting back after it tomorrow night and seeing if we can make it two and call it a streak."
The Warriors will look to carry this historic victory forward as they prepare for a rematch against Menlo College in Atherton. First serve on Saturday, April 4th will be at 6:00 PM.
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About Jessup University Athletics Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).
