Box Score

Marauders Outlast D'Youville in Five-Set Thriller at Beacom/Lewis

WILBERFORCE, Ohio — The Central State Marauders delivered a statement win Thursday night, outlasting D'Youville Saints in a five-set battle, 3–2, inside Beacom/Lewis Gym. Central State took the match by set scores of 25–22, 25–20, 27–29, 20–25, and 15–12, improving to 2–6 on the season.

The match was decided by efficiency and late execution. Central State hit .281 as a team, including a blistering .529 clip in the decisive fifth set (9 kills, zero errors on 17 attempts). The Marauders also held advantages in aces (6–4) and digs (40–39), while committing fewer service errors in critical moments.

Balanced Attack Fuels the Win

Four Marauders reached double-figure kills, led by Jaedyn Harris with 14 kills on 37 swings. Simon Falayi followed with 13 kills on a .500 hitting percentage, while Toulmin Williams IV added 12 kills, two aces, and three blocks. Preston Smith rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 kills on .292 hitting.

At the net, Central State totaled eight blocks, with Williams IV, Harris, and Bradley Patrick each recording three. Patrick anchored the offense with a match-high 44 assists, directing a balanced attack that produced 59 total kills.

Defense and Serve Make the Difference

Defensively, Benjamin Latham was everywhere, finishing with a match-high 19 digs. Central State posted 40 digs overall and applied steady pressure from the service line, highlighted by two aces each from Harris and Williams IV.

After splitting the opening two sets behind efficient first-contact offense (.440 in Set 1, .304 in Set 2), the Marauders were pushed by D'Youville in the middle frames. The Saints edged Set 3, 29–27, and carried momentum into Set 4 with a .440 hitting percentage to force a deciding fifth.

Fifth Set Surge

With the match on the line, Central State responded emphatically. The Marauders sided out at a high rate and closed the door with mistake-free attacking, out-hitting D'Youville .529 to .318 in the final set. Falayi and Smith delivered timely kills, while the block and backcourt defense sealed the 15–12 finish.

By the Numbers

• Kills: Central State 59, D'Youville 62

• Assists: Central State 52, D'Youville 57

• Aces: Central State 6, D'Youville 4

• Blocks: Central State 8, D'Youville 13

• Digs: Central State 40, D'Youville 39

The Marauders take on Ohio State on Sunday.