POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 30, 2016) – The Vassar College men's volleyball team, coming off a strong showing this weekend against No. 9 Elmira College and No. 1 New Paltz, will host conference foe No. 13 New York University Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in Kenyon Hall in a non-United Volleyball Conference match. The Brewers, who were just ranked No. 8 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 15 Poll, will look to avenge an earlier season defeat to the Violets in league action back on February 23.

Game Details
Opponent: vs. No. 13 New York University (12-12, 6-2 UVC)
Links:
(Vassar's Men's Volleyball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
(NYU Men's Volleyball Home Pages) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility: Kenyon Hall
Date: March 31, 2016
Time: 7 p.m.
Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)

A Look At The No. 8 Brewers (21-6, 4-4 UVC)
Vassar has posted one of its best seasons in program history thus far this year, coming off a seven-match winning streak, which was the second-longest consecutive stretch with wins ever at VC. The Brewers 21 wins so far this year ranks second all-time behind just the 26 posted in 2008. Vassar's defensive effort lately has been a huge part of its success, as it is holding teams to a .157 hitting percentage against. That leads the United Volleyball Conference, while also surrendering just 9.52 kills per set, second-best in the league. Vassar is also registering 2.23 blocks a game, second in the UVC. Vassar is ninth nationally in blocks per set, and ranks 11^th in the country in hitting at .280.

Individually, Vassar has been led by the duo of Reno Kriz and Matthew Knigge, each of whom rank in the top 75 in the country in finishes per set. Knigge is currently second in the conference and third in Division III in hitting efficiency with a .516 percentage, while Kriz is 33^rd in the country in kills a game with 3.31. Knigge also ranks third in the nation in blocks per set with 1.23, while freshman George Diehl is 34^th in NCAA Division III in rejections a game with 0.87. Junior captain Trey Cimorelli adds 2.33 digs a set, which is fourth in the UVC and 34^th in the country, while Zechariah Lee ranks in the top 30 in aces per set with 0.51 and assists per game (9.23). Outside hitters Quinn Rutledge, Brian Manley and Christian Lizana have also played well lately, as the three-man rotation has produced strong results for VC.

A Look At The No. 13 Violets (12-12, 6-2 UVC)
The Violets have played a very difficult schedule this season, as they boast the third most difficult slate in the country this year. Past opposition has posted a .681 winning percentage, bested by only Juniata and Cal Lutheran so far this campaign. NYU has won two of its last three matches, and also took No. 4 Rutgers-Newark to four games before falling on Tuesday evening. In conference-only matches, NYU is fourth in the conference in hitting percentage, and also is third in assists per set with 11.63. NYU ranks in the middle of the league in most other categories, including aces, digs and blocks.

The Violets are powered by Nick Benson, who is seventh in the conference in kills per game with 3.04, while setter Derrick Chiu is fifth in assists per set with 9.46. Chase Klein is another player to watch out for during the match with NYU, as he has registered 242 kills on the year, while hitting .247. Phil Bueno and Chase Corbett will patrol the middle for the Violets, as the pair has combined to poste 292 kills combined this year. Corbett is among the UVC leaders in blocks as well with 0.92 a set and 79 total rejections, and Benjamin Oxnard leads the team at libero in digs with 163 on the season.

Against NYU All-Time
Vassar is 12-31 all-time against the Violets of New York University, falling most recently to NYU earlier this year in four games. In that match, the Violets were opening their new athletics facility, and pulled away late in that contest for the UVC win.

Other Brewer Notes
- Vassar's past and future opposition winning percentage comes out to .566, which ranks Vassar with the 23^rd hardest schedule in all of Division III men's volleyball.
- The Brewers will honor seniors Erik Halberg and Reno Kriz prior to Saturday's tri-match with Mount Saint Vincent and Wells. The opening match in Kenyon Hall starts at 11 a.m., so arrive early for the pre-match festivities.
- The United Volleyball Conference is by far the best Division III men's volleyball conference, boasting 120 wins this year in non-conference action. The next closest conference is the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League with 62.
- Vassar's winning percentage of .769 this season is eighth-best in the NCAA this year.
- The Brewers are hitting .277 as a team this season, which would tie for the third-highest hitting percentage for a season ever at the College.
- In 2016, Vassar has posted 229 total blocks as a team, which is already the third-most ever at Vassar. VC needs 15.5 over the next four matches to break that mark, which came back in 2012.
- Matthew Knigge broke the school record for solo blocks in a season last match against New Paltz, as he has 26 for the season now, breaking Tim Surrette's mark from 1995 of 25.  He already owns the single-season total blocks record of 121 this season.
- When Kriz steps onto the floor on Thursday evening for Vassar, he'll become VC's all-time leader in sets played with 412, breaking a tie he currently has with Patrick Donohue at 411. Kriz became VC's all-time matches played leader on Saturday against New Paltz.

Up Next
Vassar hosts Wells and Mount Saint Vincent starting at 11 a.m. in the final two matches of the season Saturday in Kenyon Hall for Senior Day.