The No. 2 Lindenwood men's volleyball team came up short against visiting Quincy University (Ill.) Friday night, falling in five games, 30-23, 24-30, 31-29, 28-30, 15-11.

In a seesaw match that saw both teams never assert itself, it was Quincy who put together a strong run in the final moments of the contest to hand the Lions their second straight home loss and second overall.

Quincy controlled the first set, pulling away in the late stages of the game, but Lindenwood responded in game two, racing out to a quick 12-7 lead. After each team exchanged points twice, consecutive Lion points gave the defending NAIA national champions a seven point advantage. The Hawks would get as close as 24-21, but Lindenwood would not falter and pull away to even the match at one game apiece.

The Lions controlled the tempo in game three, leading by as much as four points midway through. Trailing 23-20, Quincy used its second 3-0 run of the set to even the score. The game would remain tight down the stretch with neither team taking a lead greater than one. Tied at 29, Quincy recorded back-to-back kills to take a two games to one lead.

Lindenwood took an early 8-6 lead in the fourth set and would never relinquish it, forcing a decisive fifth game. The Lions owned a brief 3-2 lead, but the Hawks converted four of the next five points to go up by two. Down 9-7, consecutive kills by Matt Schmack and Rick Hess evened the score. After the two teams sideout, Quincy scored two straight to take the lead for good and ended the match on three consecutive points.

Taylor Morrill and Mike Warren both led the Lions with 19 kills and Tim Huizinga added 10. Carson Grissinger totaled three aces and Mike Larson had 72 assists. Mike Emerick had a team-high 23 digs and Andrew Hock chipped in with 10. Hess finished with three blocks.

Lindenwood (0-2) will host Missouri Valley on Tuesday January 26 at 7:30 p.m.