Men's Volleyball | 2/27/2015 10:52:00 PM

MARSHALL, Mo. -- Isaiah Williams' 40 assists helped guide the Bluefield College men's volleyball team to a 3-1 win (19-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-21) over Calumet College of St. Joseph in the opening day of the Viking Invitational, hosted by Missouri Valley College. The Rams then closed day one with a straight-set (9-25, 12-25, 18-25) loss to No. 2 Clarke University.

The Rams' season record moves to 3-8 with the day's split.

Bluefield recorded a season-best 51 kills in its win over Calumet (1-16), being led by 11 from Connor Holland. The attack was ballanced as Daniel and Isaiah Williams added nine kills apiece, Matt Epperson added eight and Chase Craycraft seven.

Head coach Jim Butski's squad had just 15 errors in the match, allowing the team to post its highest hitting percentage in a match at .277.

After dropping the first set, Bluefield came back strong in the second with a 25-13 victory. The Rams hit at a .462 clip in the second stanza to even the match and ignite their victory.

Bluefield registered another hot hitting set in the third at .353, while they registered their third-straight set with 14 kills to earn the win in four sets.

The Rams were also strong at the net on defense against the Crimson Wave, tallying 12.5 blocks. David Gianesin had a pair of solo blocks to go with four block assists, while Craycraft and Isaiah Williams had six and five block assists, respectively. Patrick Hilton rounded out statistical leaders with five digs.

Bluefield was faulty on the serve, though, tallying 21 service errors to just one service ace.

A tough matchup with No. 2 Clarke (18-3) closed the day for Bluefield, but the Rams were able to tighten the gap in each set.

After posting just nine and then 12 points in the opening two sets, Bluefield tallied 18 in the third, limiting its errors to a match-low three in the set for a .174 hitting percentage.

Gianesin led BC with six kills against the Crusaders, while Isaiah Williams had 18 assists. Hilton led the Rams again in digs, recording four.

The Rams weren't able to be as defensive against Clarke, registering just two total blocks.

Bluefield did improve upon its service errors in the second match, recording just eight.

Play continues on Saturday for the Rams, facing No. 9 Robert Morris College and St. Xavier University in the tournament's final day.