SALISBURY, N.C. --- The Tusculum men's volleyball team was credited with a program-record 22 total blocks, but fell in a five set matchup at Catawba in the Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (IVA) opener for both squads.

The Pioneers (6-3, 0-1 IVA) fought the Catawba Indians (4-4, 1-0 IVA), ending in a five-set battle by scores of 20-25, 25-12, 25-18, 23-25, 19-21.

Three players for Catawba reached double-digit kills in the match: Wyatt Eastin (14), Justin Arrowood (12), and Ander Christianson (12). Mason Archer dished out 45 assists, while Arrowood landed half of the Indians' service aces. Max Adisson scooped up nine digs, as Eastin assisted in eight blocks.

For Tusculum, a trio of Pioneers racked up double figures in kills: Morgan Makovec (15), Adam Svendsen (12), and Reef Mathis (11). Makovec tied his career-high outing on a .423 hitting percentage, while Svendsen matched his collegiate-best on a .364 clip. Aiden Roper added eight kills, followed by Caleb Hammann with a season-high (5), Cooper Sadleir (2), and Riley Wisniakowski (1). Wisniakowski nearly tallied a triple-double with a career-best 51 assists and eight blocks (two solo, six assists), while adding 10 digs and two aces. His assist total is tied for eighth in the program record book. Roper dug up a collegiate-high 15 digs, tied for the third-most all-time. At the net, Makovec tied his best of eight total blocks as well.

Catawba hit .138 as a team with 56 kills and 35 errors on 152 total attempts. Tusculum hit .194 with 54 kills, 28 errors, and 134 total attacks. The Pioneers led the Indians in assists (54-52), service aces (5-4), digs (47-39), and total blocks (22-16). Coming into the match, the record was 15 total, set back in 2022 (1 solo, 28 assists). TU accumulated 11 solo and 22 assists in tonight's contest.

Tusculum returns home to host Thomas More on Sunday (Feb. 15) for a rare 5:30 p.m. match.