Graceland Volleyball Drops Two in Opening Matches at Olivet Nazarene Tournament

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — The Graceland University Yellowjackets men's volleyball team opened its 2026 campaign with a pair of non-conference losses Thursday at the Olivet Nazarene Tournament, falling first to Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) in straight sets before dropping a four-set match to host Olivet Nazarene University later that evening. With the results, Graceland begins the season 0-2 overall.

Match 1: Mount Vernon Nazarene 3, Graceland 0

Graceland opened tournament play against Mount Vernon Nazarene, falling in straight sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-19). Despite a competitive second set in which the Yellowjackets battled late, offensive inconsistency hindered any extended runs.

Graceland hit .088 as a team, with Hawk Richard leading the attack with six kills. Andrew Cziep and Nairod Fonseca each added five kills, with Fonseca also dishing out 14 assists and recording eight digs.

Luis Garcia led the defensive effort with eight digs, while the Yellowjackets added five service aces — two from Cziep, and one each from Garcia, Fonseca, and Aluak Taluong.

Mount Vernon executed cleanly throughout, posting a .221 team hitting percentage and minimizing unforced errors. Graceland's serve-receive game showed stretches of effectiveness but could not consistently withstand Mount Vernon's balanced offense.

Match 2: Olivet Nazarene 3, Graceland 1

In the nightcap, Graceland turned in a stronger performance but ultimately fell to Olivet Nazarene in four sets (25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 25-19).

The Yellowjackets recorded 38 total kills and hit .152 as a team, showing flashes of offensive rhythm and first-touch execution. Andrew Youssef and Hawk Richard once again paced the offense with 10 kills apiece, combining for 23.0 total points.

Graceland's best stretch came in the second set, hitting .400 with 13 kills and only three errors. The Yellowjackets claimed that frame 25-18 behind aggressive serving and improved ball control to tie the match at one set apiece.

Fonseca tallied 20 assists, five kills, three service aces, and eight digs, delivering one of the team's most complete performances on both sides of the ball. Cziep added three kills, an ace, and four digs, while Kalanikapu Aona contributed five kills and two blocks in the middle.

While Graceland held Olivet Nazarene to a .222 hitting percentage, 20 service errors and six reception miscues hindered the Jackets' chances of forcing a fifth set.

The Tigers were led by Nic VanOort (10 kills) and Evan Strong (9 kills, .643 hitting percentage). Olivet Nazarene improved to 1-1 on the season, while Graceland moved to 0-2 overall.

Early Takeaways

Despite the losses, Graceland displayed stretches of competitive play, particularly in set two against Olivet and the second-set push against Mount Vernon.

The Yellowjackets' serving pressure produced 12 total aces over two matches, while Garcia and Fonseca provided strong defensive coverage, each finishing with 8 digs in both contests. The team's middle attack also showed promise, with Aona and House combining for efficient swings and timely blocks.

Execution and first-ball contact remain areas for growth, but the team showed signs of developing offensive chemistry that could emerge as a strength with continued match experience.

Next Up

Graceland continues play at the Olivet Nazarene Tournament on Friday, Jan. 24, with two additional matches. The Yellowjackets will face Judson University at 10:00 a.m. CST, followed by Rio Grande at 1:00 p.m. CST. Both matches will be held at McHie Arena in Bourbonnais, Illinois.

For more information on Graceland men's volleyball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.