Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 31, 2009) -- The Vassar College men's volleyball team picked up a quick win Saturday afternoon at Kenyon Hall, defeating the Purchase State College Panthers in three sets, 30-14, 30-8, 30-15.

The win, Vassar's second straight, improves the Brewer record to 2-2 overall and a perfect 2-0 in the NECVA Metro conference. They will play their third game in five days when they host New York Polytechnic tomorrow at noon. Purchase drops to 2-1 and 1-1 in the conference and will take on Brooklyn College at home on Monday at 7:00 pm.

With its regular starters building a dominant lead in the first set, Vassar head coach Jonathan Penn was able to mix up the lineup and give playing time to his younger players. Brewer senior John Kessenich (Chicago, IL/Richard Montgomery) gave up his setting duties for a stretch and instead led the Vassar attack with an impressive .733 hitting percentage. He finished with a match-and-career high 11 kills with 24 assists.

Vassar's strongest team performance came in the second set, in which they hit a combined .520 and held the Panthers to just eight points. The home squad hit .422 throughout the three sets.

Brewer hitter Lucas Rathjens (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln Sudbury) contributed five kills in his first collegiate start, and his fellow freshman Adam Brouillard (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) finished with five service aces. Senior setter Ben Coleman (Brookline, MA/Brookline) stepped up as well with a career-high 10 digs.

For Purchase, Bic Cass (Brookline, MA/Brookline) and Dan Grabowski-Clark (Farmington, CT/Farmington) contributed four kills apiece, and Chris Shank (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) had a team-high 12 assists.