1/17/2026
The MSOE Raiders turned a ranked matchup into a statement of control, sweeping the Mount Union Purple Raiders 28-26, 27-25, 25-20 in a match defined by efficiency and timely execution. With MSOE entering at No. 14 in the InsideHitter.com preseason poll and Mount Union at No. 23, the contest demanded precision more than flair, and MSOE delivered across all three sets.
The opening set was a true stress test. MSOE leaned heavily on Parker Rings’ distribution as Gregory Kubon and Filip Topor scored early, each converting off clean first contacts. Callan Harris and Seth Thomas answered Mount Union pushes with steady side out swings, while a key late block by Thomas and Topor helped stall momentum. The set tightened at 25-25, but Kubon delivered a kill to make it 27-26 before Harris finished the frame at 28-26. Harris posted multiple early kills in the set, while Kubon’s efficiency set the tone for the night.
Set two opened with Seth Thomas establishing rhythm immediately, putting down early kills as MSOE jumped ahead 3-0. Mount Union countered behind Ryan Lippert and Carson Jeffers, forcing another back and forth stretch. Matthew Schultz emerged as a stabilizer in this set, recording key kills off Rings assists to keep MSOE in front. With the score tied at 24-24, MSOE turned to its block, with Rings and Topor combining to deny Mount Union at the net before Harris again provided the closer, sealing the 27-25 win. Thomas finished the set as MSOE’s most consistent point scorer while Schultz’s efficiency kept rallies short.
The third set showcased MSOE’s depth. Antonio Llona Baez entered the attack and converted multiple swings, while John Wolf added timely kills in transition to help MSOE build separation. Harris continued to pressure the block, and Schultz reappeared late with consecutive kills to shut the door. MSOE hit efficiently throughout the set and limited Mount Union to one point runs, closing the match with a controlled 25-20 finish.
Across the match, MSOE’s numbers reflected its discipline. The Raiders hit .398 with just eight attack errors on 88 attempts. Harris led all MSOE attackers with nine kills while adding two service aces and two blocks. Thomas followed with eight kills and nine digs, contributing on both ends of the floor. Schultz recorded seven kills on .357 hitting, while Topor and Kubon combined for 11 kills and each hit .500.
Rings orchestrated the offense with 37 assists, spreading touches across every attacker and adding two blocks of his own. Mount Union received strong production from Lippert with 10 kills and Sam Morrison with nine, but MSOE’s seven total blocks and consistent floor defense prevented extended scoring runs when sets tightened.
The sweep provides momentum, but MSOE’s schedule offers no pause. The Raiders now face a demanding stretch with upcoming matches against Carthage Firebirds, Loras Duhawks, and Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Those matches will quickly measure whether MSOE’s efficiency under pressure can carry forward against some of the Midwest’s most consistent programs.