VASSAR POST GAME INTERVIEW

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 14, 2017) – The No. 2 Vassar College men's volleyball team played host to the United Volleyball Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday afternoon, but the Brewers couldn't get it going as defending national title holders and fourth-ranked New Paltz defeated VC in four games with scores of 34-32, 25-22, 24-26 and 25-18.

The loss snapped the Brewer's 14-match winning streak, as Vassar dropped to 26-7 on the season. The Hawks (24-7) will advance to take on New York University in the UVC Finals Saturday, after the Violets defeated Stevens Institute of Technology in the other semifinal Friday evening.

The story of the contest was the serving from the visiting Hawks, as the powerful service from New Paltz forced out of rhythm for much of the contest. VC also had its struggles with the serve, knocking 18 balls out with the serve while posting just four aces. The Brewers did have opportunities though, especially in a marathon first-set that needed 34 points to earn the win for New Paltz.

In the set, Vassar led by five at one point, taking a 12-7 lead on a kill from senior Quinn Rutledge. New Paltz battled back and eventually tied the match at 14 on an ace by Anthony Bonilla. The Hawks would have set point first at 24-23, but Bonilla erred twice in a row to give the Brewers a set point. Vassar would have four set points in fact in the game, but two kills and a solo block by Jake Roessler earned the set for the Hawks.

In the second set, Vassar led 16-15 midway through the set, but four straight points from the Hawks forced a timeout from the Brewers. VC would rally back to tie the game twice at 19-all and 21-21, but the visitors tallied four of the last five points to earn the 2-0 lead.

In the third game, New Paltz led by as many as six points at 11-5 after an error from the Brewers. VC wouldn't go away, rallying to take a 17-16 lead on a solo block from George Diehl. New Paltz scored the next five points, and was two points to from clinching the set at 23-20, but Vassar outscored the Hawks 7-1 over the final eight points to get back into the match.

The rally wouldn't come to fruition though for the No. 2 ranked Brewers, as New Paltz posted a side-out percentage of 72 percent in the fourth set to stifle any run VC would have, rolling to the 25-18 win and making its third appearance in the finals in the last four seasons.

Junior All-American and 2017 UVC Player of the Year Matthew Knigge led all Vassar hitters with 19 kills on 40 attempts, hitting .350 for Vassar while adding eight assisted blocks as well.

Freshman Yoni Auerbach also chalked up eight kills and three digs, while Diehl finished with eight kills and four total blocks. Junior Zechariah Lee totaled 44 assists, two aces, eight digs and three blocks, and senior Trey Cimorelli posted eight digs. Senior Christian Lizana also posted six kills and eight digs for VC, which hit .212 (51-23-132) on the evening.

New Paltz was paced by the 22 kills from Roessler, as he finished with six digs and three solo blocks as well. Bonilla tallied 14 terminations and nine digs, and Steven Woessner added 11 winners for the Hawks. Freshman setter Matthew Grace dished out 46 helpers, chalking up eight digs, and Robert Nolan led all players with 15 digs.

The Brewers will now wait and hope that their name will be picked for an at-large bid to be among the field of teams for the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Vassar came into the weekend ranked No. 1 in the West Region, ahead of Stevens, Carthage and Dominican (IL). The NCAA will stream the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Selection Show at 10 a.m. at the following link: http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2017/04/17