JACKSONVILLE, Fla., -- The Edward Waters Tigers men's volleyball showed resilience and championship grit in dramatic fashion, rallying from an early deficit to defeat Kentucky State Thorobreds men's volleyball 3-2 in a thrilling reverse sweep during the opening round of the 2026 SIAC Men's Volleyball Championship Tournament.
Edward Waters found itself in an early hole after narrowly dropping the first set 26-24, followed by a 25-19 setback in the second. With their backs against the wall, the Tigers refused to fold, instead igniting a dominant comeback that shifted the momentum entirely.
The turnaround began in the third set, as EWU tightened its play and secured a 25-21 win to stay alive. From there, the Tigers took full control of the match, overwhelming Kentucky State in the fourth set with a commanding 25-10 victory. Carrying that energy into the deciding fifth set, Edward Waters sealed the comeback with a 15-10 triumph to complete the reverse sweep.
Leading the charge were All-SIAC standouts Richard Hendricks and Parfait Mugabo, both recording double-doubles in the victory. Hendricks delivered 17 kills and 13 digs, while Mugabo posted 13 kills and a match-high 18 digs, anchoring the Tigers on both sides of the ball.
Freshman De'Aundre Williams made a major impact, tallying 16 kills, six digs, six blocks, and an ace in a standout performance. Matthew Carr orchestrated the offense with 34 assists, while Caden Houston added 15 assists to keep the attack balanced and effective.
Additional contributions came from Jordan Higgins, who recorded nine kills, four blocks, two digs, and an ace, further fueling the Tigers' comeback effort.
With the win, Edward Waters advances to the semifinals, where they will face Fort Valley State Wildcats men's volleyball on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. inside the Adams-Jenkins Complex. Fans are encouraged to show their support by wearing purple for the highly anticipated "Purple Out" match as the Tigers continue their pursuit of a championship title.
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