Irvine, Calif – January 18, 2014 – The Springfield College men’s volleyball team battled tough before ultimately falling to the reigning NAIA National Champion, Concordia-Irvine, on Saturday afternoon. Set scores were 32-30, 25-19, 25-17.

Concordia- Irvine is not affiliated with the NCAA, but instead competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and is now 5-3 on the year. Springfield drops to 0-2 with the loss.

The Pride had three players notch seven kills, with Angel Perez (Naranjito, Puerto Rico) leading the way with seven kills and five digs while hitting .354. Sean Zuvich (San Pedro, Calif.) and Luis Vega (Corozal, Puerto Rico) also had seven kills, and Ryan Malone (Chicopee, Mass.) provided a great spark off the bench with five kills and a pair of blocks.

Shaun Ermi (Rush, N.Y.) paced Springfield with four blocks and Keaton Pieper (Dallas, Texas) handed out 28 helpers. Springfield was limited to just a .146 hitting percentage.

Springfield was seemingly in control in the first set, holding a 24-21 advantage after a big swing from Vega. However, the Eagles responded with three-straight points to even things up before eventually taking the first set, 32-30.

In the second set, things were even at 19 all, only to have Concordia reel off the final six points of the frame to take a two-set lead.

A Zuvich kill knotted the third set at eight-all, but the Eagles once again put together a set-changing run, with five-unanswered points before eventually cruising to a 25-17 victory.