POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 6, 2014) – The Vassar College men's volleyball team, currently sitting with a 1-3 record, will travel to Boston, Massachusetts for its first United Volleyball Crossover of the season, battling Nazareth College, D'Youville College and Elmira College in conference play this weekend. Vassar is 0-1 in the league right now, after last week's five-set heartbreaker to New Paltz.

Crossover Details
UVC Crossover Information Website
Site: Boston, MA at MIT
Facility: Rockwell Cage (1,500)

Opponent: vs. No. 6 Nazareth College (2-2, 1-1 UVC)       
(Nazareth's Men's Volleyball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Time: 1 p.m.
Date: February 8, 2014
Game Coverage: (Live Stats)

Opponent: vs. D'Youville College (2-3, 0-1 UVC)                  
(D'Youville Men's Volleyball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Time: 5 p.m.
Date: February 8, 2014
Game Coverage: (Live Stats)

Opponent: vs. No. 7 Elmira College (6-2, 1-0 UVC)             
(Elmira Men's Volleyball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Date: February 9, 2014
Game Coverage: (Live Stats)

A Look at the Golden Flyers (2-2, 1-0 UVC)
Nazareth, currently 2-2 on the year, is ranked sixth in the country. The Golden Flyers opened their season with a sweep of D'Youville, then hosted six teams last weekend at the Golden Flyer Invitational. Nazareth went 1-2 in its three matches, defeating Thiel College in four sets, but falling to No. 1 Juniata in five sets and No. 5 University of California-Santa Cruz in three sets.
 
The Golden Flyers have five players with at least 20 kills. 2013 Second-Team All-UVC and Second-Team All-American Tim Zyburt leads the way with 49 kills, averaging 3.27 per set, while hitting at a solid .300 clip. In the middle, 2013 First-Team All-UVC and First-Team All-American Luke Lawatsch has 32 kills and is leading the UVC in hitting percentage at .464. Lawatsch is also second in the UVC in blocks, averaging 1.36 per set. Chris Mahan, Grant Levermore, and Brody Cord all have at least 22 kills for Nazareth, as the team is hitting .213 on the season. Levermore leads the squad with 22 digs, and Nick McDonagh has dished out 128 assists.
 
Potential Starting Lineup: OH- Grant Levermore, OH- Tim Zyburt, OH- Brody Cord, MB- Luke Lawatsch, MB- Chris Mahan, S- Nick McDonagh, L- John McCarty

Against Nazareth All-Time
Since the 2007 season, the Brewers have gone 3-12 against their UVC rivals, including falling in each of the last nine meetings with the Golden Flyers. Last year, Vassar's season was ended by Nazareth, who finished as the country's national runner-up to Springfield College.
 
A Look at the Spartans (2-3, 0-1 UVC)
D'Youville is currently 2-3 on the year, starting the season going 2-2 at the SUNYIT Invitational. The Spartans beat Elms College in four sets and swept Cazenovia, before falling to SUNYIT and Wentworth College in three games. The Spartans then lost to No. 6 Nazareth in three sets last week.
 
The Spartans have six players with double-digit kills. Leading the way is sophomore outside hitter Brett Cawthorn with 35 kills, averaging 2.19 kills per set. Middle hitter Evan Singer is second on the team with 26 kills, hitting a solid .269, leading the team with 11 total blocks. Junior Libero Alex Johnson is ninth in the UVC in digs, averaging 2.33 per set. Collin McMahon and Steve Goedtel split the setting duties with 46 and 51 assists on the season, respectively.
 
Potential Starting Lineup: OH- Brett Cawthorn, OH- Collin McMahon, OH- Steve Goedtel, MB- Evan Singer, MB- Matt Loos, L- Alex Johnson
 
Against D'Youville All-Time
Vassar and D'Youville have only played six times in the series history, with the Brewers holding a 6-1 record. VC has knocked off DC the past four times, all in straight sets.
 
A Look at the Soaring Eagles (6-2, 1-0 UVC)
Elmira is currently 6-2 on the year, coming in ranked seventh in the country, the highest ranking in program history. The Soaring Eagles opened their season at the Juniata Tournament, falling to host No. 1 Juniata College 3-0 before beating No. 13 Kean 3-2 and Hunter College 3-1. Elmira then returned home to defeat No. 15 Medaille College in four games before coming up with their first victory over a top-five opponent in program history, beating No. 5 University of California-Santa Cruz in five games. The Soaring Eagles continued their hot streak last weekend at the Golden Flyers Invitational, sweeping No. 15 Medaille College and No. 7 Carthage College before falling to Thiel College in five games.
 
Senior setter, 2013 First-Team All-UVC, and reigning UVC Player of the Week Michael Vellutato, leads the Soaring Eagles. Vellutato is currently second in the UVC in assists, dishing out 10.13 helpers per set. Offensively, 2013 Honorable Mention All-UVC Erik Griffin has 101 kills on the season, and is second in the UVC in kills, averaging 4.04 per set. Mike Ellison is second on the team with 86 kills. In the middle, Andrew Johnson leads the team with 23 total blocks. Libero Rob Shade is currently fourth in the UVC in digs, averaging 2.87 per set.
 
Potential Starting Lineup: OH- Erik Griffin, OH- Ryan Gelenitis, OH- Mike Ellison, MH- Andrew Johnson, MH- Ryan Nerney, S- Michael Vellutato, L- Rob Shade
 
Against Elmira All-Time
The Soaring Eagles and Vassar have one of the shortest histories of any two teams in the UVC, having played only three times prior to this season. Vassar College has earned two of the three matches, though all have gone at least four games. VC knocked off Elmira 3-1 last year.
 
Rookie Standout
Freshman libero Trey Cimorelli (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) continues to impress in his first season with the Brewers. His 19 digs against Ramapo were the most by a Brewer since Christian La Du had 20 against Rivier on March 17, 2012. Cimorelli is currently second in the UVC in digs, averaging 3.07 per set.
 
For the Kill
Sophomore Reno Kriz (Breinigsville, PA/Parkland) has had 20 or more kills in two of the first four matches this season. Kriz's 22 kills against Ramapo were the most by a Brewer since Evan Frederickson had 23 against Baruch on March 30, 2011. Senior captain Joe Pyne (Los Angeles, CA/Oakwood Secondary) also has had double digit kills in three of the first four games. Kriz is ranked fourth in the UVC with 3.88 kills per set, while Pyne is currently tenth with 3.00 kills per set.
 
Middle Attack
Against Elms, middle hitters Erik Halberg (Newark, DE/Salesianum School) and Christian Lizana (Dublin, PA/Pennridge) combined to hit an incredible .810, with 17 kills on an errorless 21 swings. Halberg is currently hitting a team-high .340, and has a team-high nine blocks on the season.
 
Helping Hand
Junior setter Colin White-Dzuro (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Royal St. George) is ranked fifth in the UVC in assists, averaging 8.67 per set.
 
Making the Most
Freshman Quinn Rutledge (Chesterfield, VA/Cosby) has made an impact despite only playing in three sets, currently ranking ninth in the UVC in assists, averaging 7.33 per set. Rutledge is also third in the conference in aces, with 0.67 per set. Fellow freshman Anthony Choquette (Pembroke, NH/Lawrence) is also tied for eight in the UVC in aces, averaging 0.50 per set.
 
Up Next
The Vassar men's volleyball team returns home to face No. 11 Stevens Institute of Technology (1-2) on Wednesday, February 12. The Brewers will then travel back to Boston to take on Endicott College and Emerson College on Saturday, February 15.