ELMIRA, NY (February 18, 2017) – The Vassar College men's volleyball team got out to a great start in United Volleyball Conference (UVC) action Saturday, as the Brewers knocked off No. Stevens Institute of Technology 3-1, before taking town host Elmira College 3-0 in play from Speidel Gymnasium. Scores were 19-25, 25-18, 25-20 and 25-22 against Stevens, before earning a 25-19, 25-18 and 25-23 win over the Soaring Eagles.
 
No. 8 Vassar 3, No. 2 Stevens 1
The Brewers posted 18 total blocks in an upset win over No. 2 Stevens Institute of Technology, marking the first win for VC over the Ducks since 2010. The 18 rejections were a season-high, and tied for the second-most in a game ever at VC, topped only by the 19.5 in a game against New York University on February 12, 2001.
 
Furthermore, the 32 assisted blocks for Vassar were the second-most in a game, second behind only the previous mentioned game with NYU back in 2001. The win was also the first victory for VC over a team ranked No. 2 in the AVCA Top 15 poll, and was the second-highest win over a ranked opponent ever for VC, eclipsed only by a win over No. 1 Santa Cruz in 2008 at the Molton Championships.
 
Saturday's win for Vassar was built on defense, but VC also had some solid efforts offensively, as a trio of VC hitters posted double-digit kills. Senior co-captain Christian Lizana led all Brewers with 13 kills on 27 attempts, hitting .407 for the match. Lizana added four assisted rejections and four digs as well.
 
Fellow senior outside hitter Quinn Rutledge posted a solid all-around performance of 12 winners, five assisted blocks and eight digs, while junior middle Matthew Knigge need just 19 attempts to get to his total of 10 kills, adding 10 total blocks as well (1 solo). Junior setter Zechariah Lee was everywhere for VC, posting three kills, 38 assists, eight total blocks and eight digs. Senior Trey Cimorelli also added eight digs for Vassar, which finished with 37 total defensive saves.
 
After Stevens (11-2, 1-2 UVC) won the opening set, Vassar rebounded with a strong second game, forcing the Ducks into nine hitting errors. VC took an early 5-1 edge, but Stevens clawed back into the set to tie the game at nine on a kill by Gabe Shankweiler. The set remained tied until 18-18, when VC finished the game on an 8-0 run to tie the match at one set apiece. During the run, freshman Yoni Auerbach posted two kills and a block.
 
In the third, Vassar used three straight points in the early going to take the lead, an advantage that VC would hold the rest of the way. In the late going, Shankweiler posted an ace to make the score 20-19 in favor of VC, but Auerbach pounded down another kill and VC finished the game on a 4-0 run to take the 2-1 match edge, finishing the set on a triple block by Lizana, Knigge and Lee. VC hit .462 in the third set, posting just one error all game.
 
The fourth set was back and forth the entire way, featuring 14 tie scores. With the score deadlocked at 18, Knigge and Rutledge hammered down back-to-back terminations, and the Brewers would lead the rest of the way, clinching the match fittingly on another triple block by Auerbach, Diehl and Rutledge.
 
VC finished the match hitting .261 as a team, chalking up a 47-17-115 attacking clip. Vassar out-scored the Ducks 67-54, but the 18-5 block advantage was the big factor in VC earning the win.  David Lehman led all attackers with 15 kills for Stevens, and Dylan DeBoer also had 12 winners for the Ducks.
 
No. 8 Vassar 3, Elmira 0
The Brewers would pick up their second victory of the day, moving to 2-0 in United Volleyball Conference action. The 2-0 start in UVC play is the best conference start for Vassar since the formation of the league back in 2011.
 
In the opening set, Vassar trailed through much of the early part of the set, but came back to tie the game at 13 on a kill by Rutledge. With the score deadlocked at 15, VC chalked up seven consecutive points to pull away for the early match lead. Junior Brian Manley would clinch the set for Vassar with a kill.
 
The Brewers controlled the second game for much of it, leading by as much as seven in cruising to the 25-18 win. Vassar held Elmira to just five kills in the second game, while forcing the Soaring Eagles into .042 hitting for the set.
 
In the final set, Vassar outlasted a very tough Soaring Eagles squad, as the game was nip and tuck. With the score 22-all, Knigge hammered down a kill followed by an attacking error by Elmira.  After a service error by Vassar, sophomore George Diehl would put away the match-clinching kill to give VC the win.
 
Rutledge finished with seven kills and seven digs to pace the Brewers, while Diehl and Knigge each had seven terminations as well out of the middle position. Knigge posted four more blocks to his ledger, and Lee continued his superb play of late with six kills, 28 assists, two aces and two blocks. Cimorelli added 10 more digs, and now sits just 12 digs shy of becoming the second-ever player with 1,000 for his career.

Elmira (4-13, 0-2 UVC) was paced by Ryan McDonough and his 11 kills, while Jeremy Best added 23 assists in the loss. 
 
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Vassar (12-5, 2-0 UVC) will look to continue its six-match winning streak on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m., though it won't be easy as the No. 1 Springfield College Pride come to Kenyon Hall for non-conference match. Live stats and video will be available at www.vassarathletics.com.