READING, PA (January 27, 2018) – The No. 15 Vassar College men's volleyball team extended its win streak to four matches Saturday afternoon, chalking up straight victories over both Loras College and Alvernia University in three games in action from the PE Center on the campus of Alvernia University. Vassar defeated Loras 25-10, 25-17 and 25-17 to start the day, before rolling past the host Golden Wolvers, 25-18, 25-15 and 25-16.
 
No. 15 Vassar 3, Loras 0
Vassar College hit .323 for the match, totaling 30 kills on the match, and held Loras to just .026 hitting for the contest in picking up the early victory. The Brewers were led by senior Matthew Knigge, who finished with nine kills on 17 swings while also posting five digs and three assisted blocks.
 
The first set was close early, but the Brewers used a 11-2 run midway through the set to take an early set lead. During the stretch, Vassar totaled five service aces including three straight from freshman Ryan Duchemin. The Duhawks led for much of the early part of the second set, but Vassar tied the match at nine and then posted a 6-0 run to take a 14-9 edge after a pair of kills from George Diehl.
 
VC continued to extend its lead in the second set, claiming the second set on sophomore Yoni Auerbach's kill. In the third, VC posted eight points over the opening 11 to take an 8-3 edge before Loras pulled to within two at 8-6. VC would hold onto its lead for the rest of the stanza though, leading by at least three for the rest of the stanza to cruise to the win.
 
The Brewers featured a balanced attack, as Diehl finished with six kills while adding three assisted blocks as well. Auerbach and sophomore Kevin Ros each finished with five kills, while Ros totaled a team-best 11 digs and four aces on the contest. Senior setter Zechariah Lee finished with 26 assists and two aces, while Duchemin added three aces and three blocks.
 
Vassar finished with 12 service aces for the match, while posting a very strong .941 reception percentage. Loras was led by the six kills from Dylan Ross.
 
No. 15 Vassar 3, Alvernia 0
The Brewers posted a season-best 46 kills in a three-set match against Alvernia in the second match of the day, hitting .347 while adding nine more service aces to earn the victory. The ability to receive serve Saturday for the Brewers was huge, as VC allowed no service aces from the Golden Wolves for the match.
 
The first set remained close, with the teams splitting the first 18 points en route to a 9-9 score, but Vassar chalked up four consecutive points capped by two kills from Auerbach to take a 13-9 lead. VC continued to add to its lead, and Knigge hammered home his ninth kill of the period to give the Brewers the 1-0 match edge.
 
The second set saw VC post only 12 kills for the period, but VC's defense allowed just four kills from Alvernia to double its lead to 2-0. The Brewers posted five aces in the second set, including three from Knigge and two from Ros. The offense would jump start again in the third set, as Vassar collected 16 more terminations to pull away.
 
Knigge chalked up a match-best 19 kills, hitting .720 for the match, while his five service aces also were the most among all players. Freshman Garth Verdeflor finished with a career-high 13 digs for VC, while Lee earned 35 assists, 10 digs and five kills. Auerbach added five kills as well for Vassar, and freshman Jefferson Waters finished all three attacks he took against AU.
 
Alvernia was led by Ralph Lunati III and his nine kills, while Justin Gibbs added 16 assists and five digs for the Golden Wolvers (2-4).
 
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Vassar (5-2) will now turn its attention to its 2018 home opener next Saturday, February 3 at 2 p.m., hosting No. 1 Springfield College along with St. Joseph's of Long Island at 2 p.m. for a non-conference tri-match in Kenyon Hall.