ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Trine University men's volleyball team suffered a Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) loss on Saturday afternoon to Fontbonne University, 3-1.

The Thunder (8-11, 0-2 MCVL) were victorious in set number one, but ultimately dropped the next three sets to the Griffins (15-6, 4-0 MCVL) who sit in second on the conference table.

Kevin Boncaro [Rochester, N.Y. / Rush Henrietta] helped kick start the Trine offense with three kills in the first five Trine points. A three-point run mid-set led by server Kyle Dixon [Lockport, Ill. / Lockport Township] put the Thunder up 14-12 in the first and they would not look back from there. Ted Hofmeister [Powell, Ohio / Saint Charles] and Matt Stillman [Mokena, Ill. / Lincoln Way Central] were key attackers in the set one victory, 25-21.

Fontbonne claimed a 9-3 lead in the second set that forced head coach William Dowdy into a timeout. Eric Santiago-Garcia [Dorado, Puerto Rico / Glen Ridge] served up an ace shortly after, but the avalanche continued for the Griffins offensively as they pulled away to a 20-7 lead. Ethan Howard [South Whitley, Ind. / Witko] found Boncaro for a couple of kills late, but Fontbonne tied the match at one set apiece with a 25-10 win.

A run of six Griffin points out of seven early in the third gave Fontbonne a 12-6 lead as Trine took the first timeout in the set once more. Fontbonne kept their foot on the accelerator and took the third 25-15.

Hofmeister threw down three kills in the opening six Thunder points as the visitors tied to keep pace. Fontbonne took a 12-7 lead in the opening moments of the fourth, but a block by Dixon and Hofmeister capped a three-point run and the Griffins had to regroup with a timeout. Sam Bhandal [Marysville, Wash. / Marysville] served to get Trine to within one at 16-15, and the team was able to remain close at 18-17 and 19-18, but were never able to break through to tie or take the lead. The last six points of the set went to Fontbonne to clinch the match with a 25-18 set four win.

Hofmeister (16) and Boncaro (12) were in double figures for kills. Howard assisted on 35 points to pace the Thunder. Hunter Haas [Cincinnati, Ohio / Bishop Moeller] tied with Boncaro at eight digs on the defensive side of the ball.

The road trip continues for men's volleyball tomorrow, March 20, for a 2 pm match at Wabash College.