Marauders Cruise Past LeMoyne-Owen in Straight Sets to Open SIAC Tournament
FORT VALLEY, GA – Central State (OH) opened the 2025 SIAC Men's Volleyball Championship in dominant fashion Tuesday morning, sweeping LeMoyne-Owen College 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-22) at the Health and Physical Education Complex in Fort Valley, Georgia.
The Marauders (9-16, 7-5 SIAC) set the tone early with a convincing first-set win and never looked back, overpowering the Magicians (2-17, 2-10 SIAC) with a potent offensive attack and a solid showing at the service line.
Central State's offense was firing on all cylinders, finishing the match with 35 kills and a blistering .333 hitting percentage. Simon Falayi and Tyrese Tuten led the charge with 9 kills each, while Jaedyn Harris added 8. Setter Adam Sheppard orchestrated the attack with 26 assists and anchored the defense with a team-high 7 digs.
Tuten and Jayden Durrah were lethal from the service line, each tallying 3 aces, while Toulmin Williams IV added 2. The Marauders also out-blocked the Magicians 5-2, with Falayi contributing a pair of rejections.
After a slow start, LeMoyne-Owen found some rhythm in the third set, hitting a match-best .368 and keeping things close. Alendy Sincoul paced the Magicians with 9 kills and added 3 digs, while Jaqson Lesure tallied 13 assists.
However, the Marauders' depth and consistency proved too much. Central State closed the door in the third frame, sealing the sweep and advancing to the next round.
Next up, the Marauders will look to build on their momentum as they continue their run in the SIACÂ Semifinal matchup vs Edward Waters at 3:30 on Tuesday, 4/15.
