Box Score

MAHWAH, NJ  (January 21, 2011) -- Playing against No. 5 nationally ranked Rivier, a team that already played four matches this season, the Vassar College men's volleyball team battled heartily, but fell in four sets 3-1 (16-25, 23-25, 26-26, 27-29) Friday evening in a tri-match played at Ramapo College.

The Brewers (0-1) will be back in action on Saturday, facing Ramapo at 11:00 am and Philadelphia Biblical at 2:00 pm.

Vassar got a 17-kill performance from senior Evan Fredericksen, 12 kills from sophomore Matthew Elgin and seven from junior Lucas Rathjens.

Sophomore John Konow accounted for 42 of Vassar's 46 set assists. Sophomore Christian La Du led the Brewers with 12 digs. Konow and Rathjens had six each.

Outside of the first set, each of the next three sets were tightly contested, all decided by two points.

Vassar's best played set, the third, saw the Brewers come back from a 24-21 deficit and win five straight points to make the match 2-1 in Rivier's favor. In that run, with Konow serving, Vassar capitalized on three Rivier attack errors and got an important kill from Fredericksen to draw within a point.

In the fourth set, Vassar had built a 24-20 lead before Rivier mounted its comeback. A Rathjens kill tied the set at 27-27, but a Vassar service error and an attack error provided the margin of victory.

Rivier took a 2-0 lead following a tight 25-23 victory in the second set. Rivier never led by three points throughout the set, but built a 24-20 cushion after a Vassar attack error.  The Brewers drew within 24-23 after a kill from Fredericksen but Rivier closed out the set with a kill by John Furka.

Rivier opened the match with a decisive 25-16 win, although the Brewers were within four points at 17-13.