POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (January 27, 2015) – The Vassar College men's volleyball team (2-2, 0-0 UVC) opens its 2014 home slate Thursday evening, taking on No. 10 New York University in Kenyon Hall at 7 p.m. in the first opportunity for home fans to take in the new-look Brewer squad. Vassar College is coming off a third-place finish at the SUNYIT Tournament this past weekend, earning wins over Wells College and Mount Ida College in day one, falling to No. 9 Nazareth 3-2 and Wentworth Institute of Technology 3-0 in pool play Saturday.

Game Details
Opponent: No. 10 New York University (2-0, 0-0 UVC)
Links:  (NYU Men's Volleyball Homepage) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility: Kenyon Hall
Date: January 29, 2015
Time: 7:00 pm
Twitter Coverage: (@VassarAthletics)(@VassarMensVB) (@NYUAthletics)(@NYUMensVolley)
Game Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
What To Look For
The Violets jumped one spot in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll this week, going from No. 11 to No. 10 after two wins over No. 14 Stevenson (3-2) and Rutgers-Newark (3-2). The matchup to watch Thursday night will be the Brewers attack versus the solid block of NYU. Coming into the match, the Brewers currently boast the league's fifth best offensive attack, but the Violets have a United Volleyball Conference (UVC) high 2.45 blocks per set. VC's balanced attack will help, but it will also be big for the Brewers to be able to score in transition. That has been the case, as VC has allowed the second-fewest kills per set this season so far, surrendering just 8.57 on average per game.
 
A Look At The Violets (2-0, 0-0 UVC)
New York University had two solid wins over the weekend, starting the season with a five-set win over ranked Stevenson University. In that match win over the Mustangs, the Violets got a whopping 28 kills from Nick Benson, while Chase Klein added 15 terminations and Colin LaPorte killed 13 attempts. The 6-2 offense of the Violets saw both Derrick Chiu and Patrick Merrick hand out a combined 57 helpers in that big win, while Andrew Quick finished with 19 digs. In just two matches, the Violets are second in the conference in kills per set with 12.80, while placing seventh in hitting percentage with a .202 hitting clip. The Violet's kill per game average is fourth-best in the nation coming in, while the 12.40 assists per match is the third most in NCAA Division III thus far.

It will be important for the Brewers to try to contain Benson, but he has been on fire in the early going this year. Benson enters Thursday with the nation's most kills per set, averaging 4.63 per game. Merrick is third in the country in assists per set with 11.13 a game, and Klein comes in ninth in Division III with 3.70 kills per set. Sean Leahy and Phil Bueno will also be important parts for the Violets, as Bueno leads the team in blocks with 13. Five players have over 10 digs for the Violets as well.
 
Projected Starters: Colin LaPorte - RS, Phil Bueno - MH, Nick Benson - OH, Sean Leahy - MH, Chase Klein - OH, Patrick Merrick – S.
 
Against NYU All-Time
The Brewers have gone 11-29 against the Violets since the series started back in 1990, with the Violets earning the last two matches and five of the last six contests. VC's last win came at the UVC Championships in 2013, a five-set victory for the Brewers.
 
Good Start
The 2-0 start this year for the Brewers was their first 2-0 beginning of the season since the 2007 campaign, which saw VC earn wins over New Jersey City University and New York Polytechnic.
 
Welcome To The Show
Freshman Matthew Knigge (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) was named as the Co-Rookie of the Week for the University Volleyball Conference in his first week of action. It was Vassar's first Rookie of the Week ever.
 
Efficient Frosh
Matthew Knigge comes into the contest against NYU with the nation's sixth-best hitting percentage, chalking up a .531 clip threw four matches so far.
 
Serve For Success
The Brewers serve so far this season has been strong, registering the nation's 13^th most aces per set with 1.79 a game. The mark is currently second-best in the UVC behind only the 2.13 of Elmira College.
 
Rico Suave
Freshman Jorge Rivera (San Juan, PR/Cupeyville) has made an immediate impact for the Brewers outside, posting a team-high 35 terminations thus far this season.
 
Up Next
Vassar College will return to the road this weekend at No. 3 Springfield College, taking on the ranked Pride Saturday, January 31 at 12:30 pm, before battling Elms College at 3:15 pm.