Roberts Wesleyan Dominates Central State in Straight Sets
The Central State Marauders (0-1) faced a tough opening match of the season, falling 3-0 to Roberts Wesleyan (1-0) in a non-conference volleyball matchup on January 8, 2025. The contest, which took place at Beacom/Lewis Gymnasium in Wilberforce, Ohio, ended in straight sets, with Roberts Wesleyan winning 25-20, 25-16, and 25-23.
First Set: Roberts Wesleyan came out strong, capturing the first set with a solid 25-20 win. The Marauders struggled to maintain offensive consistency, hitting just .125 as a team. Despite the efforts of Central State's Jaedyn Harris, who contributed 4 kills in the opening set, the Marauders could not keep pace with Roberts Wesleyan's offensive attack led by Griffin Monrad, who posted 5 kills in the set. The Redhawks hit an impressive .261 as a team, including 12 kills on 23 attempts.
Second Set: Roberts Wesleyan took control early in the second set, cruising to a 25-16 victory. Central State had difficulty handling the Redhawks' defense and offensive execution. The Marauders' attack efficiency dropped to negative (-0.037) in the set, while Roberts Wesleyan maintained a steady rhythm, hitting .238 and showcasing strong blocking defense with 4 team blocks. The Marauders were led by Simon Falayi with 3 kills in the set, but it wasn't enough to slow down the Redhawks' momentum.
Third Set: Central State fought hard in the third set, pushing the Redhawks to a closer 25-23 finish. The Marauders saw improvement in their offensive output, raising their hitting percentage to .192. Key contributions came from Harris, who finished with 3 kills in the final frame, and Falayi, who registered 2. However, Roberts Wesleyan was too strong, led by Monrad, who added another 4 kills. Jonah Grbic and Paul Fillion also stepped up offensively for the Redhawks, combining for 5 kills in the set. Roberts Wesleyan finished the match with a .274 hitting percentage, while the Marauders hit just .091.
Game Highlights: Roberts Wesleyan had a balanced attack throughout the match, led by Monrad's 12 kills. Grbic, with 6 kills, and Fillion, with 5, provided strong support. Setter Landon Brouwer dished out 27 assists, while Moises Jimenez led the defense with 8 digs.
For Central State, Harris led with 6 kills, followed by Falayi and Toulmin Williams IV, each contributing 5. The Marauders struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm but saw some bright spots in individual performances. Bradley Patrick registered 19 assists and Benjamin Latham led the team in digs with 9.
Looking Ahead: With this loss, the Marauders will need to regroup as they prepare for their next match, looking to build on the positive moments from the third set and refine their offense and defense. The Redhawks, now 1-0 on the season, showed impressive balance across their roster and will look to build momentum as they head into their ECC conference play.
Final Score: Roberts Wesleyan 3, Central State 0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-23)
Team Statistics:
- Points: Roberts Wesleyan 41, Central State 37
- Kills: Roberts Wesleyan 32, Central State 25
- Aces: Roberts Wesleyan 4, Central State 3
- Blocks: Roberts Wesleyan 9, Central State 6
- Assists: Roberts Wesleyan 30, Central State 22
- Digs: Roberts Wesleyan 26, Central State 26
