Sylvania, Ohio--The No. 3 Spartans opened the 2018 season competing at the Lourdes Invitational with matches against Saint Ambrose University and Lawrence Technological University. The Spartans swept both contests on the day; 25-20, 25-20, and 25-20 against Saint Ambrose University, then against Lawrence Tech., 25-19, 25-14, and 25-23.
 
The Spartans first faced off against the Fighting Bees of Saint Ambrose University. Sophomore outside hitter Luka Cajic set the pace for the Spartans, finishing with 21 kills and eight digs. Sophomore Jack Huizinga followed close behind with 10 kills.
 
Senior setter Kyle Foley led the offensive charge for the Spartans with 40 assists, while junior libero Colton Inman controlled the defensive efforts with 12 digs.
 
After a slow start in the first set, the Spartans used a four-point scoring run to take a three-point lead. Inman then served three points in a row, giving the first set to the Spartans 25-20.  The Spartans never trailed in the second set, taking commanding leads at 13-9, and then again at 20-15. Kills from Clifford and Cajic helped the Spartans take the second set 25-20. The third set followed the same suit as the first and second. With the score tied 20-20, two kills from Cajic and a service ace from Foley sealed the deal for the Spartans with a 25-20 win.
 
The second match of the day paired the Spartans against the Blue Devils of Lawrence Technological University. Head Coach John Yehling used multiple lineups in the sweep over the Blue Devils. Cajic once again led the Spartans with 10 kills, six service aces, and eight digs. Clifford followed  Cajic's  efforts with eight kills.
 
Sophomore setters Jason Harman and Ethan Mourer finished with eight and nine assists, respectively. Harman also finished the match with six digs.
 
Inman controlled the defense well for the Spartans, finishing with eight digs.
 
In the first set, the Spartans jumped out to an early 7-2 lead and never looked back. The team would take their biggest lead of the set at 20-10, prompting a Blue Devil timeout. Out of the timeout, Lawrence Tech looked to gain some momentum. However, after closing the deficit to five points, a kill from Clifford gave the first set to the Spartans 25-19.
The Spartans used tough serving throughout the second set to gain a big lead. A nine-point Cajic serving run gave the Spartans the push they needed to finish out the second set, 25-14. Lawrence Tech competed well in the third set and pushed the Spartans all the way to the end. However, with the Spartans up 23-21, kills from Cajic and Clifford helped push the Spartans to a 25-23 set win.
 
The Spartans return to action on January 20, where they will face off against  host , No. 4 Lourdes University. Game time is set for 11:30 PM (CT).