Elms Box Score

Nazareth Box Score

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POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 20, 2010) -- In the Championship match of the Vassar Invitational, Vassar defeated Nazareth 3-0 (34-32, 30-28, 30-16) to clinch its third consecutive Invitational championship. The two teams had met just eight days earlier at the Nazareth Tournament where the Golden Flyers prevailed, 3-1. Vassar senior# Phil Tully#, who was named Tournament MVP, led the way for the Brewers, notching 16 kills and just four errors on 40 attacks. Nazareth, which was led by Hans Schroeder with 14 kills, drops to 8-7 on the season with the loss. 

With the win, Vassar improves to 11-6 on the season. The Brewers will next travel to Bard on Wednesday for a North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Metro Division matchup, before returning home to face Ramapo on Saturday February 27th, also in a divisional contest. Nazareth meanwhile, will travel to Buffalo for a divisional match against D'Youville on Wednesday. 

Entering the contest, both Vassar and Nazareth were 3-0 in the tournament, ensuring the winner would secure the Invitational Championship. Both squads hit well from the outset, with the Golden Flyers recording 18 kills in the opening game, good for a .333 hitting percentage. Not to be outdone, the Brewers knocked home an impressive 26 kills on a .339 attack percentage in the opening frame. 

The two sides were evenly matched from the start, with no squad holding a lead bigger than two until the Golden Flyers extended their lead to four 17-13 behind a Schroder service ace, and kill, a part of his eight kill first game. Nazareth was able to extend their lead to five, 27-22, before the Brewers came roaring back. Down 28-24, Vassar won four straight points, on a run keyed by one of Tully's game-high 9 kills, and capped off by an ace from freshman Matthew Elgin. From there, the two teams traded points, before Elgin gave the Brewers a 33-32 lead off a kill set up by John Konow who had 45 set assists in the match. On the next play, Tully blasted a back row kill off an assist from junior Evan Fredericksen, to hand the Brewers the first set. 

Like the first set, the second set was a hotly contested affair, bolstered by offensive firepower. Both teams recorded match-high hitting percentages, Nazareth at .382, and Vassar at .355. Also like the first, Nazareth earned a late lead, this time at 23-20, the biggest lead of the game, only for Vassar to run off three points to tie. After the Brewers even the score at 23 on a block by Elgin and Konow, the squads traded points, until the game was tied at 28. Vassar then earned the final two points, off a pair of Nazareth errors, taking the game 30-28. Nazareth All-Invitation selection Robert Kraft led all players with six kills in the game. 

The third and set game of the match was also close at the beginning. Vassar led by just three, 19-16, before running off 11 straight points behind the serving of Junior Andres Posada. Fredericksen and sophomore Lucas Rathjens were key in the run, each notching a pair of kills. 

The Brewers boasted a balanced attack with Elgin (10 kills, 1 error, .450 hitting percentage), Fredericksen (13 kills, 3 errors, .417 hitting percentage) and Tully (16 kills, four errors) all finishing in double figure kills. Vassar All-Tournament selection Christian La Du recorded a match-high 12 digs. Schroeder led the Golden Flyers with 14 kills, while Kraft led the team in hitting percentage at .389 with nine kills and just two errors. 

The Vassar men's volleyball team took one more step towards defending their Invitational title on Saturday morning, as they disposed of Elms College in quick order, 30-14, 30-9. Elms forfeited the third game. The Brewers will play one more match this afternoon, against Nazareth College at 2:00 p.m. With a win, they could ensure their third straight Invitational championship.

Vassar's starters rested while the underclassmen took over. Freshman Matthew Elgin and sophomore Evan Fredericksen led the attack for the Brewers with 10 and 8 kills apiece. Elgin hit a torrid .600, which contributed to his team's .397 hitting in the short match. Clifford Quinn stepped up as setter and finished with 22 assists. 

The Brewers took the necessary step towards defending their Invitational title on Saturday by first defeating Elms College, 30-14, 30-9. Elms forfeited the third game. The Brewers will play one more match this afternoon, against Nazareth College at 2:00 p.m. With a win, they could ensure their third straight Invitational championship.

Vassar's starters rested while the underclassmen took over. Elgin and Fredericksen led the attack for the Brewers with 10 and 8 kills apiece. Elgin hit a torrid .600, which contributed to his team's .397 hitting in the short match. Clifford Quinn stepped up as setter and finished with 22 assists.