CLEVELAND, Ga. (January 28, 2023) – On Saturday, the Truett McConnell University men's volleyball team hosted Benedict College and Milligan University for a non-conference tri-match inside the Harris Athletic Complex. In the first match against the Tigers, the Bears fell 22-25, 21-25, and 20-25. In the second match against the Buffaloes, TMU recorded their first-ever program win (25-14, 25-11, 25-19).

MATCH 1 | 0-3
The Tigers were quick to jump on the Bears with a three-point rally. A kill from Alex Bosman and Kyle Gregory helped put TMU on the board. The Tigers were persistent with multiple rallies, where kills from Jackson Adams and Gregory worked to cut the deficit. A late three-point rally was not enough to seal the deal (15-25). In the second set, an early six-point rally from the Tigers quickly put TMU behind. Kills from Gregory and Adams sparked the momentum, followed by back-to-back kills from Bosman to give the Bears hope, where a late kill from Gregory was not enough to seal the deal (14-25). In the final set, TMU was quick to match the Tigers with kills from Adams and Wensky Saintlimond. Multiple rallies from the Tigers propelled them ahead, when a late six-point rally from the Bears cut the Tigers lead to one. Clutch kills late in the set from Saintilmond and Adams saw both teams neck-and-neck, but was ultimately not enough (22-25).

LEADERS
Adams led the way with seven kills, one block and eight digs. Gregory followed with six kills, while Bosman recorded five kills. Jakob Lee tallied 15 digs, followed by Nathan Hill with eight digs of his own.

MATCH 2 | 3-0
The Bears were on the board first with kills from Bosman and Gregory, paired with service aces from Hill to jump ahead early. A Bears five-point rally included a kill from Hill and service ace from Saintilmond to create a large margin. The Buffaloes responded with a rally of their own, but kills from Adams and Adam Shuman sent TMU ahead. Consecutive service aces from Gregory secured a 25-14 victory. In set two, the Bears were hot out of the gates with an eight-point rally, seeing kills from Adams, Hill, and Gregory to leave the Buffaloes in the dust. A nine-point rally saw service aces from Hill and kills from Adams to secure set two (25-11). In the final set, the Bears propelled ahead with a five-point rally with kills from Adams. A late rally from the Buffaloes threatened TMU, when kills from Shuman and Hill secured the Bears first program victory (25-19).

LEADERS
Adams led the way with eight kills, three service aces and eight digs. Gregory followed with seven kills and six blocks, while Shuman had six kills. Hill, Adams and Lee recorded eight digs apiece.

UP NEXT
The Bears remain in the Harris Athletic Complex on Satuday, Feburary 4 for their first conference match-up against St. Andrews University. Match time is set for 1:00 p.m.