Ottawa University (AZ) Inches Past SMCC Men's Volleyball

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's volleyball team (0-3) lost 3-2 (27-29, 25-18, 16-25, 25-23, 16-14) to Ottawa University (AZ) on Feb. 13 in a match at the SMCC Gym. Freshman Connor McCann led the Cougars with 17 kills, and SMCC had a swing at match point in the fifth set, but the Spirit scored three straight points in the frame to sneak away with the win. 

SMCC hit .242 with 16 kills in 33 attacks to win the first set 29-27. After a difficult second frame, the Cougars posted seven kills in a set three win and 14 kills in a narrow set four loss. The Cougars finished with a .250 hitting percentage for the contest, totaling 48 kills and 15 errors in 132 attacks. 

McCann had 17 kills in 25 swings to finish with a .640 hitting percentage. He added a service ace, a dig, a solo block and six block assists over the five sets. 

Freshman Zach Brown was second on the squad with 10 kills, hitting .150 in a team-high 40 swings. He added two aces, five digs and two block assists. 

Sophomore Andy Sanchez led SMCC with a career-high 13 digs and added four aces. Sophomore John Engelbert finished with seven kills, an ace, a solo block, three block assists, and 10 digs, and freshman Karson Bingham had six kills, three digs, a solo block and a block assist. 

Freshman Michael Howell finished second on the team with 12 digs and added two kills, an ace and a solo block. Freshman Brandon Pauole led SMCC with 37 assists and added three aces, two solo blocks and five block assists.