MERCED, Calif. - The Ottawa University Arizona men's volleyball team fell to University of California-Merced in a close five set match on Sunday afternoon. Final scores were 23-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 16-18.

With the loss, the Spirit drop to 6-6 overall on the year.
 
The Spirit jumped out to take the lead in the first game of the match. UC-Merced was able to catch the spirit and tie the game at 17 to then take the win at 25-23. Game two began with the Spirit, again taking the early lead, and UC-Merced tying the game at 22-22. But the Spirit kept the control and finished the game 25-23. The third game the Spirit gave dominated play using tough serving and a strong offense to finish 25-18.
 
The fourth game of the match the situation flipped with UC-Merced taking control, keeping the lead and winning the game 25-23 to force the game into a final game. In that final game, the Spirit took the early lead, but UC-Merced would come back to tie the game at 15-15. Both teams would fight for the win, going into extra points. UC-Merced would win with a block to end the game at 18-16.
 
Andrew De'Leon would collect 61 assists for the game and Bryan Ilena would earn 5 blocks. James Yahner lead the team with 22 kills and would tie with Joaquin Santa Cruz for most digs with 14 each.
   
 
About Ottawa University
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity within a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution serving 3,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Phoenix, Queen Creek and Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; Jeffersonville, Ind.; as well as online. For more information, visit www.ottawa.edu. 
 
For more information about OUAZ athletics, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/athletics. Follow OUAZ athletics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OUAZSpiritAthletics/ and on Twitter twitter.com/OUAZSpirit.