Gutierrez & Aniolczyk Lead Reinhardt Past Life 3-1

Marietta, Ga. — Reinhardt University men's volleyball ground out a 3-1 road victory at Life on Friday night, capping the match with an extended 33-31 fourth set to seal a nonconference win at the Upper Gym in Marietta, Georgia. The Eagles took the match by scores of 26-24, 25-13, 22-25 and 33-31, improving behind a balanced offensive attack and timely blocking in front of a crowd listed at 150.

Reinhardt finished with 57 kills, eight service aces and 12 team blocks, edging a Life squad that countered with 49 kills, two aces and 15 blocks. Outside hitter Gabriel Gutierrez led the way with a match-high 23 points, piling up 19 kills to go with five digs, two aces and three total blocks. Life stayed in the match behind the front-row presence of Jan Burhardt, who totaled 18.5 points on 11 kills and 11 total blocks, and Serano Keijl, who added 17 points with 15 kills, four digs and an ace.

The tone of the night was set in a back-and-forth opening set. Reinhardt surged ahead 24-20 after a late service ace from Nazmi Bayoglu, but Life responded with a four-point run to even the frame at 24-24. The Eagles steadied in extra points, forcing a Life service error before an attack error by Jakub Kantorowicz closed out a 26-24 first-set win and gave Reinhardt early control of the match.

The Eagles turned that momentum into their most dominant stretch in the second set. Behind a series of clean sideouts and multiple kills from Gutierrez, Reinhardt built separation midway through the frame and never let Life back within striking distance. A late surge that featured additional kills and pressure from the service line pushed the lead into double digits before the Eagles finished off a 25-13 decision and a 2-0 advantage in sets.

Life answered in the third by tightening its block and leaning on Burhardt and Keijl. The Running Eagles controlled more long rallies, using their net defense to slow Gutierrez and create transition chances. With the set tight late, Burhardt and Keijl each registered key kills to give Life a narrow edge, and a forced error on Reinhardt's Andrea Forcina on set point secured a 25-22 win for the hosts and extended the match to a fourth set.

The decisive fourth turned into a marathon. Both teams traded leads and sideouts deep into extra points, with neither side able to create more than a two-point cushion. Reinhardt leaned on its depth at the net as opposite hitter Jakub Aniolczyk came through with a string of late kills to keep the Eagles even. After fending off multiple set points, Reinhardt finally broke through when Aniolczyk delivered again and the Eagles followed with a match-clinching service ace, closing out a 33-31 thriller to end the night.

Aniolczyk finished with 16 points on 13 kills, three digs, one ace and four block assists, complementing Gutierrez's production on the pin, while middle blocker Decklan Fongbemi added 8.5 points with five kills and six total blocks to anchor the Eagles' presence at the net. Reinhardt's ability to convert in tight moments, especially in the first and fourth sets, proved to be the difference as the Eagles continued their strong March form. Reinhardt is scheduled to return to action Thursday, March 19, with another road match against Webber International at 4 p.m.