CHESTERFIELD, MO  --  Men's Volleyball is set to play in their first Intercollegiate Volleyball Association tournament this week, facing 3-seed Tusculum University on Friday night at 8 p.m. The tournament is a single elimination format consisting of nine teams.

About the Pioneers
The Tusculum Pioneers are 15-12 this year, going 2-2 vs IVA opponents. They have only played Lincoln Memorial and Thomas More this season, dropping both matches against the Railsplitters before bouncing back with 3-2 and 3-1 victories over the Saints.

The Pioneers are led by senior outside hitter Deklan Wingo. Wingo leads the nation in attacks, kills, and points per set as well as 25th in DI/DII for hitting percentage with a .344. The Pioneers also boast the 5th-most efficient attacker in the country in Morgan Makovec who has a .476 hitting percentage.

About the Miners
The Miners are 10-13 this year as the look to make a deep run in their first IVA tournament appearance. They will be trying to bounce back from a three match losing streak, dropping contests against McKendree, Rockhurst, and Maryville to close the season.

S&T's defense remains one of the best in the nation, ranking 13th in digs per set. Bartosz Chmielewski (Aurora, IL/Metea Valley) remains the Miners' lead in digs per set, recording 2.22 per stat that ranks him 19th in DI/DII.

What's Next
A victory for the Miners would move them to the tournament semifinal at 1pm on Saturday.

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