2/15/25 Fulton, MO– Despite a hard-fought effort, the Westminster men's volleyball team fell to a strong Wabash squad in straight sets (23-25, 19-25, 19-25) on Thursday night. The loss evens the Blue Jays' record at 7-7 as they prepare for a crucial weekend at the Wittenberg Tournament.
Westminster came out strong in the opening set, keeping pace with Wabash in a back-and-forth battle. However, Wabash capitalized on a late surge to take the set 25-23. In the second set, Westminster struggled to sustain momentum as Wabash tightened its defense. The Blue Jays had difficulty finding open attacks, and errors proved costly as Wabash pulled away for a 25-19 win. The third set followed a similar pattern, with Westminster showing resilience but unable to close the gap. Wabash's efficient hitting and strong blocking sealed the match with another 25-19 victory.
Dalio Taouil paced the Blue Jays with seven kills on 15 attempts (.267 hitting percentage) and added 12 digs and a block assist. Derrick Turner also recorded seven kills while contributing defensively with a dig and block assist. Lucas Brown was active at the net with four kills, a solo block, and two block assists for seven total points. Aidan Ortmann and Khalil Peterson chipped in with four kills each, with Peterson hitting an efficient .222. Jake Schawo-McAlister facilitated the offense with 20 assists and five digs.
Westminster will have a chance to regroup as they travel to Ohio for the Wittenberg Tournament on February 14-15. The Blue Jays will face regional competition as they look to bounce back and return to the win column.