SPRINGFIELD, MA (February 21, 2018) – Vassar senior middle hitter Matthew Knigge finished with a match-best 11 kills for the Brewers, but the top-ranked Springfield College Pride earned a straight set victory over the No. 11 Vassar College men's volleyball team in action from Black Arena Wednesday evening.

The Brewers pushed the home team as far as they could in the opening set, falling in extra points 27-25, but the Pride pulled control of the second and third sets to earn the 27-25, 25-16 and 25-19 decision. In the opening game, VC stormed out on the Pride, taking a 5-1 lead on back-to-back kills from freshman Jefferson Waters and Knigge.

Vassar College held either a tie of the lead until 20-20, when Springfield pushed ahead 21-20, but the Brewers responded with four straight pints to earn three set points. The defending national champions wouldn't go away though, finishing the set on a 6-1 run to capture the opening game and take an early lead.

The hosts would use that rally and the momentum it provided to hold Vassar's offense under control while hitting .290 in the second set and .455 in the third to earn their 14^th consecutive win of the season. Knigge's 11 kills were paired with his team-best eight digs, also chalking up two blocks. Waters posted six kills as well for VC, and senior setter Zechariah Lee collected 21 assists while hammering three service aces and four digs.

Freshman libero tied for the team lead with eight digs, and freshman middle Ryan Duchemin posted the team's lone solo block. Sophomore Yoni Auerbach posted two kills on his three attacks as well for the Brewers, who hit a season-low .106 for the match, also posting just four blocks which were the second-lowest total of the year for the Brewers.

Vassar (9-5) will have the weekend off before returning home for a non-conference match with Elms College Tuesday, February 27 at 7 p.m. in Kenyon Hall.