Ramapo Box Score

PBU Box Score

MAHWAH, NJ (January 21, 2012) - In its season opener, a non-conference tri-match at Ramapo College, the No. 15 ranked Vassar College men's volleyball team split matches, defeating No. 14 Philadelphia Biblical University 3-0 but losing to host Ramapo 3-1.

Ramapo (2-0) defeated PBU in the day's third match 3-1 and will open its conference play against NYU Polytechnic on January 28. Vassar will bring its 1-1 record to its home opener vs No. 4 NYU on Wednesday, January 25th at 7:00 PM in Kenyon Hall.

In the first match of the day, the Brewers dropped a four set decision to the host Roadrunners by set scores of 23-25, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-15. As both teams were playing season-opening matches, the play was somewhat unpredictable as the teams sought to shake off the rust of the long winter break. The first set featured twelve ties and eight lead changes, with the only lead of more than two points held early on by Ramapo at 7-4. That lead was erased by a five point Vassar run that featured two kills by Charles Caldwell and the first block of the season by Lucas Rathjens and Patrick Donohue. Through the middle of the set, neither team was able to put together a string of points and after a Rathjens kill tied the set at 20-20, the teams traded service and attack errors to tie again at 22-22. Even though Ramapo took the lead at 23-22 on a Colin McNeil kill, Vassar scored the next three points to close out the set 25-22. Caldwell had two of his set-high six kills in the finishing run.

The second set saw both teams struggle offensively, combining for 20 hitting errors in the frame, while stuff blocks became the name of the game early on. Vassar jumped out to leads of 3-0 and 4-2, with all four points coming on blocks, Mathew Elgin assisting in each. Then it was Ramapo's turn, blocking three of its own in the next six points, pushing to an 8-5 lead and forcing a Vassar time-out. A Brian Colabella kill increased the lead to four at 9-5 before a service error broke the Ramapo run. The Roadrunners quickly recovered their momentum, however, and while both teams made multiple attack and service errors, Vassar could only close within two at 12-10 before three consecutive hitting errors prompted Vassar head coach Robert Wolter to use his second time-out at 21-15. Kills from Caldwell, Rathjens and sophomore Joe Pyne weren't enough to get the Brewers back in it, never getting closer than four points before a McNeil kill closed out the set for Ramapo 25-20. Caldwell and Donohue both had three kills for Vassar, while McNeil and Jeff Jones each put away four for Ramapo.  Each team notched five blocks in the set.

With the match knotted at one set each, the third set proved the most competitive of the match, with both teams overcoming their hitting woes of the second set and settling into an offensive rhythm. The longest scoring run of the set was only five points by Vassar, and no one held a lead of more than three points throughout.  After ties at every point from 15 to 20, three straight Ramapo kills led to the only time-out of the set with Vassar trying to find a break, down 20-23. It seemed to work when a Ramapo service error out of the time-out and a timely Donohue ace got the Brewers within one at 22-23. But a kill from Paul Konapacki and another Roadrunner block – their third of the set and tenth of the match – ended the set for Ramapo 25-20.

The fourth set proved to be all Ramapo, their offense really starting to click – 15 kills and an efficient .324 hitting percentage - while Vassar struggled to put the ball away, mustering only nine kills and hitting only .097 on the set.  After a 1-1 tie, the Roadrunners scored six straight – they would have four runs of over four points in the set – never trailed and would cruise to a comfortable ten point victory 25-15. Caldwell was the offensive leader for the Brewers, notching a match-high and career-best 16 kills while hitting at a .306 clip. Junior John Konow totaled 40 assists on the match and added in nine digs while Rathjens was a force at the net with seven kills and six blocks. Freshman Colin Fearn-Johnson was a spark off the bench with six kills and eight digs. Junior Libero Christian La Du led Vassar with 10 digs. Ramapo had two hitters in double-digit kills with Joel Castro and Jones totaling 13 and 10 respectively. Ramapo setter Mike Hrehovcik had 38 assists while Libero Aaron Kerschner led all players with 18 digs.

In the second match of the day, Vassar rebounded with a 3-0 sweep of #14 Philadelphia Bible. The set scores were 25-15, 25-16 and 25-23. Caldwell was once again the offesive leader for the Brewers, posting nine kills while hitting an efficient .412. Two freshmen led the way defensively with Owen Brady and Artie Blissert each picking up six digs. It was another strong blocking outing for the team, holding a four block edge over the Eagles, 11-7. Elgin put up a match high six block assists and one solo. Konow again ran the Vassar offense, dishing 23 assists and getting kills from five different hitters. PBU was led by Ryan Garven and Noah Prickett who each totaled nine kills.