New York, NY - The #9 Vassar College Men's Volleyball team was outlasted in five sets in the UVC Championship semifinals on Saturday afternoon against second-seeded #15 Nazareth as the third-seeded Brewers fell 23-25, 27-25, 25-27, 25-21, 10-15 to the Golden Flyers. Nazareth advances to tomorrow afternoon's championship match against top-seeded #1 NYU while Vassar will learn its chance for an at-large bid on Monday morning for the NCAA Selection Show at 10:00 a.m.
First Set
- Vassar took an early 5-3 lead following a kill and a solo block from senior Billy Fan.
- Nazareth battled back to go ahead 14-12 on back-to-back winners from Owen Wickens.
- Aces from Andrew Bodensteiner and AJ Burda along with a kill from Alex Bertino to extend the lead to 19-15.
- VC drew within 20-19 behind kills from Fan and sophomore Walter Birnbaum to force a Nazareth timeout.
- Following an ace from sophomore Armaan Desai to even it at 20, the Golden Flyers pulled ahead 23-21 on a kill from Bodensteiner and a block from Max Stuver and Bodensteiner.
- Senior Tobias Clark's winner drew Vassar within 24-23 but a kill from Bertino clinched the opening set for Nazareth.
Second Set
- Nazareth pulled ahead 7-4 behind winners from Ryan Murphy, Bertino and Josh Weaver.
- The Golden Flyers advantage grew to 12-7 on two more kills from Bodensteiner and one winner from Bertino.
- VC drew within 13-12 on a block from sophomore Armaan Desai and Birnbaum and then tied the set at 15 on a kill from Fan.
- The Golden Flyers went on a three-point run behind a kill and two aces from Murphy to force a VC timeout at 18-15.
- VC battled back to get within 20-19 on a kill from Clark and a service ace from senior Payne Lounsbery.
- After the Golden Flyers extended the lead back to 23-20, VC used a kill from Birnbaum, an ace from Desai and a block from senior Gavin Akoto, Birnbaum and Fan to tie it at 23.
- Vassar completed the second set comeback following a triple block from first year Henry Bonney, Fan and Akoto along with Akoto collecting a solo block to take the second set 27-25.
Third Set
- Nazareth raced out to a 5-1 lead after two kills from Quinn Ringstad and a winner from Bertino along with a block from Ringstad and Murphy.
- VC cut the lead to 7-5 following a solo block and a kill from Akoto before the Golden Flyers lead grew to 10-5 on a kill from AJ Burda.
- Nazareth's lead expanded to 17-11 on two kills apiece from Wickens and Weaver.
- Weaver's ace put the Golden Flyers on top 20-12 before the Brewers collected three straight points on a kill and a solo block from Bonney and a block from Clark and Akoto.
- VC got within 22-19 on a kill from Bonney and came all the way back to get tied at 22 on back-to-back Birnbaum kills.
- Back-to-back kills from Desai and first year Petar Miocinovic put VC ahead 25-24 but Nazareth used two kills from Murphy and a Vassar error to earn the third set victory.
Fourth Set
- Both teams traded points back-and-forth before VC took a 9-7 lead on a kill from Birnbaum.
- Nazareth drew even at 11 after three kills from Wickens and a winner from Weaver and took a 13-11 lead on back-to-back aces from Murphy.
- Vassar got back within 13 apiece on a Bonney kill and then propelled ahead 16-15 on a kill each from Desai and Akoto.
- Back-to-back winners from Birnbaum and Clark put Vassar ahead 19-16 and a solo block from Fan increased the Brewers lead to 22-18.
- Two kills from Stuver and an ace from Wickens cut the advantage down to 23-21 until Fan buried a kill and a Nazareth error sent the match to a fifth set.
Fifth Set
- Nazareth took a 4-1 lead to begin the fifth set after a kill from Ringstad and an ace from Wickens.
- VC drew back even at five on a solo block from Fan and a block from Akoto and Bonney.
- The Golden Flyers advantage expanded to 10-7 on a Bertino winner and kills from Wickens and Stuver.
- Birnbaum's kill put the Brewers within 11-9 before the Golden Flyers used two kills from Stuver and one from Burda to clinch the five-set victory.
For The Brewers
- Birnbaum tallied a team-high 17 kills, seven blocks and six digs while Desai recorded seven kills, two aces and two blocks.
- Fan finished with six winners, seven blocks (three solo) and 11 digs along with Clark adding five kills, three blocks and 10 digs.
- Akoto chipped in four kills, nine blocks (two solo) and four digs while Bonney registered three winners and four blocks.
- Lounsbery handed out 31 assists and added seven digs along with sophomore Tucker Shearn lifting eight digs.
For The Golden Flyers
- Wickens recorded a match-high 18 kills, 11 assists, two aces and four digs while Bertino added 15 kills and nine digs.
- Bodensteiner registered seven kills and three blocks along with Murphy finishing with seven kills, five aces and four blocks.
- Weaver tallied six kills and nine digs while Burda garnered 37 assists, 13 digs and two kills.
- Bodey Groff lifted nine digs and Stuver chipped in five kills.
Up Next
- Vassar will learn if they have earned a NCAA at-large bid on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. on NCAA.com.