POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Brewers are back! After an abrupt end to last season, the No. 4 Vassar men's volleyball team begins the 2021 campaign against United Volleyball Conference (UVC) foe Elmira in Kenyon Hall on Sun. Mar. 21 at 2 p.m. All matches this season are doubleheaders, and the Brewers face the Soaring Eagles again at 4:30 p.m. Live stats and video are also available for all matches. 
 
Vassar returns 14 members of the team, while welcoming a large class of five newcomers. Sophomore All-American middle blocker Gavin van Beveren (Alpharetta, GA) directs the offense and led the team with a .434 kill percentage, 72 blocks, and 22 service aces in 2020. Also back is sophomore Andrew Kim (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), who finished his rookie season third on the team with 187 kills, 15 service aces, and 83 digs. He also tacked on 30 blocks.  Senior captain Ryan Duchemin (Maitland, FL) finished 2020 fourth on the team in kills (143) and aces (14) while having the second-most blocks at 62.
 
Other vital members set to make an immediate impact are junior libero Matt Usui (Rolling Hills Estates, CA), who topped the squad with 179 digs last season, and senior Jefferson Waters (Hummelstown, PA), who tallied nine aces and 19 blocks in 2020.
 
A first-year class brings in two setters AJ Erickson (San Diego, CA) and Jacob Kim (San Ramon, CA), two outside hitters in Vaughn Ramsey (Denver, CO) and Andrew Guaragno (Holmdel, NJ), and middle blocker Colin Jones (San Diego, CA).
 
Following the Elmira doubleheader, Vassar travels to No. 2 New Paltz for a pair of matches on Mar. 24, beginning at 4 p.m. The condensed season consists of ten total matches and wraps up against No. 7 St. John Fisher on Apr. 2.
 
Last season saw Vassar finish at 16-5 overall with a 6-1 UVC record, which was first in the conference. The Brewers posted several impressive wins, including a 3-2 victory at then-No. 1 New Paltz on Feb. 5.