New Paltz, NY - The #18 Vassar College Men's Volleyball team saw its season come to a close in the First Round of the UVC Championship on Friday evening as the Brewers fell 25-19, 19-25, 22-25, 18-25 to Hobart.

Vassar's record finishes at 17-10 overall while the Statesmen improve to 14-13 on the season and advance to tomorrow's semifinal against top-seeded #7 New Paltz.

First Set

• Hobart took the early 3-1 lead behind two kills from Daniel Sappia and a winner from Kian Kischke.
• Vassar answered with seven of the next eight points, led by a kill and an ace from first year Darwin Davis and an ace from sophomore Shawn Zheng, to pull ahead 8-4.
• VC expanded the advantage to 11-5 on a block from junior Parker Schoenl and senior James Zuckerman and kills from Zuckerman and junior Armaan Desai.
• The lead grew to 21-13 behind two winners from junior Walter Birnbaum and one kill from Desai.
• Hobart battled back to cut the deficit to 23-19 after two kills apiece from Sappia and Kischke.
• Vassar clinched the opening set following a Hobart error and a block from Desai and Davis.

Second Set

• Following a 2-2 tie to begin the second stanza, Vassar collected an 8-4 advantage behind three kills from Birnbaum and a block from Schoenl and Desai.
• Hobart answered with 5-1 run, led by two kills and a solo block from Sappia, to even the set at nine.
• Vassar got the lead back to two at 16-14 on another Birnbaum kill until Hobart regained the lead at 19-18 behind a kill and an ace from Sappia.
• Desai's kill evened the set at 19 before a three-point run from Hobart on a kill and a solo block from Noah DeLong to push the lead to 22-19.
• The Statesmen evened the match at one set apiece at 25-19 on a winner from DeLong.

Third Set

• Both teams traded points in the early stages of the third set as a block from Harry Fromberg and Alain Malcolm brought the set to a 5-5 tie.
• Vassar went on a strong run, taking a 11-7 lead following two kills from sophomore Henry Bonney and a solo block from Desai.
• Hobart answered with the next four points to even the set at 11 after a DeLong kill and a block from Kischke and DeLong.
• The Statesmen pulled ahead 17-15 using a kill from Sappia and a Malcolm ace, leading to a Vassar timeout.
• Vassar clawed its way back to tie the set at 22 behind five winners combined from Birnbaum and Bonney.
• Hobart scored the final three points of the set after a kill apiece from Sappia and Fromberg to go ahead two sets to one.

Fourth Set

• Hobart gained a 6-3 lead following two winners from DeLong and a kill from Fromberg.
• Vassar trimmed the lead to 8-7 on a block from Davis and Desai until Hobart built the lead to 10-7 on a block from Aidan Kemora and Kischke.
• The Brewers cut the lead to one at 11-10 on a block from Zuckerman and Zheng but the Statesmen responded with a run to expand the lead to 17-13 on a Sappia solo block.
• Once again, VC got back within one at 18-17 behind a kill apiece from Desai and Bonney.
• Hobart scored seven of the final eight points as DeLong's ace pushed Hobart to the semifinal round.

For The Brewers

• Birnbaum notched a team-high 15 kills (.306) and 12 digs while Desai finished with eight kills and six blocks (three solo), which ties him for the single season record in solo blocks with 29.
• Bonney garnered nine kills and a block while Davis added four kills, an ace, six digs and two blocks.
• Zheng chipped in four kills, an ace and two digs along with Zuckerman totaling three kills and three blocks.
• Schoenl posted 37 assists, two blocks and five digs while senior Casey McMenamin lifted seven digs.

For The Statesmen

• Sappia finished with 14 kills, seven digs and two solo blocks while Fromberg posted 12 winners, an ace and a block.
• DeLong tallied 11 kills, five digs and three blocks (one solo) along with Kemora adding eight kills and seven digs.
• Kischke recorded seven kills, three blocks and three digs while Malcolm chipped in four kills and two aces.
• Zack Farren handed out 22 assists while Tor Boughal registered 19 assists.
• Gavin Meador lifted a team-high 12 digs.

Up Next

• Hobart advances to tomorrow's semifinal matchup against top-seeded New Paltz at 2:30 p.m.