Pride finish strong on the attack to earn five-set win over Culver-Stockton

CANTON, Mo. - Beginning their final two matches of the 2022 regular season, the Clarke University men's volleyball team pulled off a five-set win on the road against Culver-Stockton College on Saturday afternoon.

The Pride had a strong offensive performance, especially in the fifth set, to earn the win by set scores of 16-25, 25-18, 25-18, 26-28, and 15-8 as CU finished the match with a .280 hitting percentage.

In each set Clarke won they hit for a .400 or better hitting percentage with .400 in both the second and third sets and .474 in the final set to clinch the win. On the opposite side of the floor, Culver-Stockton hit over .300 in their two set wins with a .320 in the first and a .314 in the fourth set.

Senior Michael Jenkins led all players in the match with a season-high 21 kills on 48 attemps with only five errors for a .333 hitting percentage on the day. Jenkins added 10 digs, tied for the second-highest total in the match for his third double-double of the season.

Behind Jenkins, both Curtney Germaine (14/.393) and Stephen Lewandowski (12/.364) finished in double digit kills and a hitting percentage over .300 as Montez Thompson also finished with 10 kills to round out the double figures in kills for CU.

Setter Erik Schmidt and libero Nick Palatine also finished in double digits in their main statistical categories as Schmidt finished with a career-high tying 57 assists that matches the 57 he recorded earlier this season, also against Culver-Stockton. Palatine finished with 11 digs to lead all players in the match while also adding four assists in the match.

Clarke men's volleyball will finish the 2022 regular season on the road with a matchup against Grand View University on Tuesday, Mar. 22 in Des Moines, Iowa.