Vassar Earns Seventh Straight Victory in Sweep

By Steven Merritt

ROCHESTER – The #9 Vassar College Men’s Volleyball team extended its winning streak to seven matches on Friday evening as the Brewers collected a 26-24, 25-15, 25-20 sweep against UVC foe #13 Nazareth on the road. Vassar’s record improves to 16-3 overall and 5-0 in conference play while the Golden Flyers drop to 12-5 on the season and 0-1 in UVC action.

First Set
Kills from Max Stuver and Alex Bertino put Nazareth ahead 5-4 in the early stages before three combined kills from senior Vaughn Ramsey and junior Payne Lounsbery put the Brewers ahead 8-5.

Nazareth drew even at 13 all on a Stuver winner before a kill and an ace from senior Jacob Kim regained a three point advantage.

The Golden Flyers battled back to even the set at 20 all on back-to-back winners from Josh Weaver.

Nazareth pushed Vassar to set point at 24-22 on a block from Andrew Bodensteiner and Stuver before the Brewers collected four straight points, led by a kill from junior Gavin Akoto and blocks from Lounsbery, Akoto and Ramsey to earn the first set comeback victory.

Second Set
Vassar earned a 4-2 lead following two blocks from Akoto and extended the lead to 11-5 following winners from Kim and Ramsey.

A kill from Stuver cut the lead down to four until a five point run, capped by kills from junior Billy Fan and first year Armaan Desai, put the Brewers ahead 16-7.

A solo block from Stuver trimmed the VC lead to seven before four straight points from the Brewers, led by a kill and ace from Kim along with a winner from senior Andrew Guaragno and a solo block from Akoto, extended the lead back to 22-11.

Two kills from Ramsey and one from Fan led Vassar to a strong second set victory.

Third Set
Vassar raced out to a 8-2 lead as two kills and a service ace from Akoto along with a kill and block from Kim led the way.

Nazareth got within four on a kill from Tristan Henderson at 14-10 before back-to-back kills from Kim pushed the lead to 17-11.

Two kills and an ace from Bertino cut the lead down to four at 20-16 for Nazareth.

Two straight winners from Lounsbery pushed the lead to 22-16 followed by Guaragno clinching the sweep with a kill at 25-20.

For The Brewers
Kim tallied nine kills, 17 assists, two aces, two blocks and two digs for Vassar while Lounsbery recorded eight winners, two blocks and five digs.

Ramsey chipped in six kills along with Akoto registered five kills and six blocks.

Fan added five kills, Desai buried four winners and senior AJ Erickson handed out 13 assists.

First year Tucker Shearn lifted a match-high eight digs.

For The Golden Flyers
Stuver notched 10 kills, three blocks and six digs while Weaver buried 10 winners.

Bertino finished with seven kills along with Bodensteiner adding three kills and two blocks.

AJ Burda registered two kills, a match-high 29 assists and a team-best seven digs.