RIVIER BOX
NJCU BOX
JERSEY CITY, NJ (March 17, 2012) – Looking to extend a three-match win streak despite a six day break, Vassar men's volleyball travelled to New Jersey City University to face Rivier College and the host Gothic Knights. The Brewers dropped a close four-set match to the Raiders of Rivier before rebounding in their second match to defeat NJCU 3-1.
Vassar is now 10-7 overall and 5-4 in United Volleyball Conference (UVC )play and will host UVC rival SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday March 21, at 7:00 PM in Kenyon Hall. The match is potentially the Brewers' biggest of the regular season as it holds implications in the conference playoff picture.
The match against Jersey City was a roller-coaster affair, featuring a blowout for each team - 17-25 and 25-15 in sets one and three - but also the longest set of the year for either team, a marathon 34-32 brawl that Vassar put away on its fourth set point. The hosts had five set points of their own but couldn't finish to go up 2-0. Vassar wrapped up the match 25-20 in the fourth, taking control at 11-11 and never trailing again in the set. The Vassar offense, run by
John Konow with 37 assists, featured a pair of freshmen hitters.
Colin Fearn-Johnson's 11 kills and
Luke Sobieraj's 10 were not only best for the Brewers in the match, but also career highs for both. NJCU's Besmir Arslani led all players with 15 kills. Junior libero
Christian La Du had a match-high 19 dig for the Brewers, but the defensive statistic of the match belongs to senior
Lucas Rathjens, who set not only a personal best, but a new Vassar match record with 12 blocks.
In the first match of the day, Vassar and Rivier College squared off being separated by only one spot in the national rankings, the #11 Brewers sitting just below the #10 Raiders. The expectation of a close match was met with only a 12 point total difference in the set scores 19-25, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, Rivier coming away with the 3-1 victory.
Joe Pyne and
Patrick Donohue led Vassar with 12 and 11 kills respectively. Rivier was led by Aaron Almario with a 14. LaDu once again led all players on defense with 20 digs, his season best.
