Rockford Sun

The Rockford University men's volleyball team (4-22, 1-11 NACC) won its final match of the season on Saturday afternoon at Wisconsin Lutheran College (0-24, 0-12 NACC). Rockford won the first two sets 25-16 and 25-20, before dropping the third set 20-25, but then rallied to win the fourth and deciding set 25-16. The Regents broke or tied a total of 18 records on Saturday at the conclusion of the season. Josh Albers broke the single-match record for assists per set (9.75) and Rockford tied the school record with 10 service aces. The Regents also broke eight single-season team records. Rockford set school records for kills (700), assists (657), digs (876), digs per set (10.3), attack attempts (2,373), attack attempts per set (27.92), blocks (92), blocks per set (1.10) and service aces (91). Rockford broke an additional seven individual single-season records as well. Josh Albers broke the records for assists (580) and digs (142), Jose Padron broke the records for kills (203) and attack attempts (668), James Davenport broke the record for digs per set (2.80), Connor McNear broke the record for total blocks (36) and Danny Karpenko broke the record for service aces (19).

REGENT RECAP

• Rockford never trailed in the first set, but it was very close the majority of the way. 
• With Rockford holding a 15-12 lead, the Regents scored six of the next eight points to seize control of the set. 
• Rockford would then close on a 4-2 run, to take the opening set 25-16 and grab a 1-0 lead. 
• The Regents dug themselves into an early 5-2 hole in the second set, but responded with a 6-2 run, including scoring four straight points, to retake the lead. Four different Regents tallied a kill over that span, and Isaiah Dixon also recorded a service ace. 
• Rockford would build its lead up to as many as three points, before the Warriors fought back and tied the set at 14-14. 
• The Regents promptly went on a 7-1 run and jumped out to a 21-15 advantage. Jose Padron and Danny Karpenko each had a service ace, while Nathan Vana capped off the spurt with a kill.
• Wisconsin Lutheran never really threatened the rest of the way, as Rockford took the second set 25-20 and jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
• Rockford again dug itself into an early hole in the third set, falling behind by a score of 7-1. 
• Fortunately, the Regents responded with a 7-2 run of their own and pulled back within a single point. Danny Karpenko jump-started the RU attack with an ace and a kill, while Connor McNear tallied a trio of kills during the run. 
• Wisconsin Lutheran was able to steadily increase its lead back up to as many as five points at 18-13. 
• With Rockford now trailing by just two at 20-18, the Warriors closed on a 5-2 run, to win the third set 25-20 and make it a 2-1 match.
• Fortunately, the Regents were in control for basically the entire fourth set. 
• Rockford used an 11-2 run early on and took a commanding 15-6 lead. 
• The Regents would stretch their lead out to as many as twelve at 22-10, following an ace and a kill from Nick Magdadaro. 
• Wisconsin Lutheran never got any closer than eight the remainder of the match, as Rockford took the fourth set 25-16 and the match 3-1. 

• Isaiah Dixon led the Regent attack with a match and season-high 12 kills on 25 attack attempts. He also had 2 digs and a service ace. 
• Nathan Vana finished with 8 kills, a season-high 9 digs, 2 blocks and a service ace. 
• Connor McNear recorded 7 kills on just 13 attack attempts. He also tallied 3 digs, 3 blocks and an ace. 
• Danny Karpenko tied his season-high with 7 kills on 14 attack attempts. He also had 4 digs, 3 aces and an assist.
• Josh Albers finished with 39 assists, 3 kills, 3 digs and 2 service aces. 
• Da'Quan Bates led Rockford with a team-high 11 digs.