NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Opening conference play against the defending national champions is no easy task. Still, the No. 5 Vassar men's volleyball team upset No. 1 New Paltz in a five-set thriller on Wednesday evening. Sets went back-and-forth at 21-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, and then 15-12 in the finale. The Brewers also snap a 16-match Hawks' winning streak dating back to last season.

With the win, Vassar has now won seven straight and moves to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the United Volleyball Conference (UVC). The Hawks suffered their first loss, falling to 6-1 and 0-1 in the conference. The teams were nearly identical, with Vassar hitting .387 while New Paltz had a .327 rate.

The first set faired evenly until a 3-0 run that comprised of an Andrew Kim (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) ace and kill, as well as a kill from Kevin Ros (Bridgewater, NJ). Vassar held a slight lead, but the Hawks tied the set 15-15. Two more ties followed when a New Paltz 3-0 span gave the Hawks a 21-18 advantage. Ryan Duchemin (Maitland, FL) knocked in a kill, and then a Hawks' error made it 21-23. New Paltz scored the final two to close the set win.

After trading the opening points, Ros spurred a 4-0 span to put the Brewers up 8-4. New Paltz would chip away at the lead once again, pulling within 12-8 before Ros and Jefferson Waters (Hummelstown, PA) each tallied a kill. Afterward, Vassar took a 22-15 lead and maintained a cushion until Duchemin fired in the set-point for the 25-18 victory.

The third set score was identical to the second, but this time it was the Hawks coming out on top. After Kim tied things 5-5, New Paltz took the lead off a Vassar error and never gave it up.

Now down 1-2, the Brewers came out hot, earning six of the opening nine points. New Paltz never led but rallied to make it 22-21. The Hawks would knock in two more kills, but three New Paltz service errors gave Vassar the win.

The fifth set gave fans everything they wanted, with neither side leading by more than three. Kills by the freshman duo of Kim and Gavin van Beveren (Alpharetta, GA) pushed the Brewers to lead to 6-3. New Paltz pulled within one, but another van Beveren kill and Hawks error made it 9-6. New Paltz eventually made it 13-12 when Duchemin knocked in a kill. A Hawks' error gave Vassar the game-winning point.

Ros led Vassar with 15 kills on 32 attacks (.406 percent). He also had four solo blocks and six digs. Waters added 11 kills with two aces, while Kim also knocked in 11 kills. Matt Usui (Rolling Hills Estates, CA) recorded a team-high ten digs, and Steven Koja (Temecula, CA) dished out 42 assists.

Aaron Clark led the way for New Paltz with 21 kills on 35 attacks (.486 percent) and 17 digs, while Nick O'Malley finished with 15 kills. Matthew Grace tallied a game-high 49 assists.

Vassar continues action against Sage on Fri. Feb. 7 at Kenyon Hall. The game begins at 6 p.m.