Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, MA (March 31, 2010) – Springfield College, the No. 2 nationally ranked team in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, parlayed a .368 hitting percentage and capitalized on a tough attack match by the No. 9 ranked Vassar College men's volleyball team, to defeat the Brewers 30-17, 30-24, 30-27 Wednesday evening at Blake Arena. 

Vassar drops to 17-8 on the season and has a quick turnaround with a Thursday evening match at No. 5 nationally ranked Baruch College (32-3, No. 1 ranked in the NECVA) at 7:00 p.m. Springfield improves to 15-8 will host New York University on Saturday, April 3 at 5:00 p.m. 

Vassar was led in kills by senior hitter Phil Tully with 14. Junior hitter Evan Fredericksen had 10 kills and freshman hitter Matthew Elgin had seven kills. Freshman setter John Konow led all players with 31 set assists and freshman libero Christian La Du had 10 digs. 

Springfield had a balanced attack, getting nine kills from sophomore outside hitter Jeff Guttman, eight from junior middle block Cal Palumbo and junior opposite Alberto Bravo and six from freshman middle block Greg Falcone and freshman outside hitter Evan Ananfora. Senior setter Eric Shoemaker had 15 assists for the Pride

The Brewers struggled on the attack end, hitting .098 for the match (37-26-112) against a powerful Springfield team that had just 12 miscues (51-12-106). Although the Brewers managed very early leads in each of the three sets, a series of runs by Springfield in each set put the Pride ahead by a workable four to six point margins. The Brewers found themselves in a catch-up mode in the first and second set and couldn't mount a threat against Springfield down the stretch. The third set, Vassar's best played, saw the Brewers take a 19-17 lead before Springfield mounted a mini-comeback and won in a tight finish 30-27. 

In the third set, the Brewers jumped out to a 4-1 lead getting kills from Tully and Elgin, but the Pride went ahead 7-4 with John Coen serving. Vassar began to gel as the set wore on, knotting the match at 15-15 and 16-16 and taking a 19-17 lead on two straight Springfield attack errors. The set see-sawed from that point, was tied at 21-21 and 22-22 before a Vassar service error and a Springfield kill by Palumbo put the hosts ahead 24-22 and then 25-23 following a long rally that ended in a Vassar attack error. The last nine points of the match were well played, with the Brewers drawing within 29-27 after a kill from Tully. Springfield got a closing kill from Greg Falcone for the victory 30-27. 

The second set was closely played, featuring 11 ties, the last coming at 15-15. Springfield then inched ahead 17-15, but the Brewers remained close, getting a kill from Fredericksen to cut the lead to 18-17 and a kill from Elgin that brought the Brewers within two points at 21-19. The Pride scored three quick points for a 24-19 advantage and although another kill from Elgin made the score 24-20, Vassar could get no closer, falling 30-24. 

In the first set, the Brewers led 2-0, and had the match tied a 4-4 before the Pride went on a roll. Springfield raced to a 9-4 lead with senior outside hitter AJ Nally serving, getting three straight kills from Cal Palumbo and then built a 17-10 advantage that was halted by a kill from Tully. The Pride was able to maintain a 10 point lead for the rest of the set, based largely on the attack prowess of Palumbo and Nally, who each finished the first set with five kills without an attack error. Springfield won five out of the last six points for the 30-17 win. Vassar managed only a .081 hitting percentage (10-7-37) while Springfield was sharp at .425 (20-3-40). Tully had five kills for Vassar.