DUBUQUE, Iowa – Kansas Wesleyan Men's Volleyball fell in three sets to the Clarke University Pride 31-29, 25-21, 25-20 on Friday night at the Kehl Center.
 
In the opening set, the Coyotes jumped out to an early 4-1 lead and led 8-6 on a kill by Matt Lucas before the Pride scored three straight points to lead 9-8. Ryan Wagner's kill drew the Coyotes even, and the Coyotes took a 15-13 lead on another Wagner kill. Cooper Stepp's block gave the Coyotes an 18-14 lead, but then Clarke would score six consecutive points to take a 20-18 lead.
 
KWU battled back, trailing 21-19, scoring four straight to take a 23-21 lead. Clarke scored the next two to tie it before the Coyotes had a chance at set point after an error by the Pride. Clarke tied it before a kill by Zayin Martinez gave KWU set point again. The Pride scored the next two points to have set point at 26-25, but the Coyotes again tied it up on a kill by Matt Lucas. The teams went back and forth until Clarke scored the final two points to win 31-29.
 
Clarke took a 6-3 lead in the second set and later pushed the difference out to 14-9. KWU scored the next three to get within two at 14-12, and were within two again at 17-15 when the Pride extended the lead to 23-17. KWU scored four of the next five points to get within three at 24-21, but Clarke took the set 25-21.
 
Clarke led the third set 10-3 and eventually pushed the lead out to 19-9, but the Coyotes came back getting within four at 24-20 but could not close it out falling 25-20 in the third.
 
Wagner led the Coyotes with nine kills while Martinez had eight. Ethan Ricketts had 23 assists. Justin Burras had seven digs and Barry Neff, Jr. had six.
 
The Coyotes take on Mount Mercy on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa before starting a four-match home stand on Tuesday with Grand View.