Despite having three players with double-digit kills and an overall 63-59 advantage, the New York University men's volleyball team fell in four sets to Springfield College on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.
After taking the first set in powerful fashion, the Violets (3-11), currently ranked #10 in the Bison/AVCA Division III Men's Coaches Top 15 Poll, dropped the next three to the top-ranked Pride (7-6) to lose the match 3-1 (25-30, 30-24, 30-26, 30-26).
The first set saw six ties before the Violets managed to build a 17-13 lead, forcing the Pride to use their first timeout. Coming out of the stoppage, Springfield managed to chisel away at the lead, eventually coming within one at 20-19. However, a service error on the next play gave the Violets a two-point cushion which was all they would need en route to the 30-25 win.
In the second set the tide turned for NYU. After jumping out to an 8-3 lead and forcing Springfield to use a timeout, the Violets stumbled and a five-point lead became a two-point deficit in the course of seven plays.
That would be all the momentum that the Pride would need. Springfield did not trail for the rest of the set, building its lead to as much as seven at 26-19 before eventually taking the set 30-24.
In the third set, the Violets jumped on top of the Pride early, taking a quick 5-2 lead. However, Springfield kept its composure, tying up the score at five. The two teams went on to trade points until a quick three-point run on the part of the Pride gave them a 18-15 advantage. Seven plays later, the Violets tied up the score again, using their own 5-2 run to pull even.
Springfield managed to gain two-point leads at 22-20 and 24-22. However, each time NYU rallied to tie the score. The third time the Pride took a two-point advantage, they managed to break away, building their lead to four at 29-25 before taking the set 30-26.
The fourth featured an early 6-6 tie before Springfield took nine of the next 13 points. The Pride continued to roll coming out of a Violets' timeout, putting together their biggest lead of the night at 24-16. NYU rallied and pulled within three on two occasions at 28-25 and 29-26. However, it was too little, too late, as Springfield took the deciding set 30-26.
Senior captain Devin Zolnowski extended his double-digit kills streak to 11 as he put down a match-high 22 kills along with eight digs and two blocks.
Also in double-digits for the Violets were junior Michael Ferragonio with 13 and sophomore Fran Hodgson with 10.
Senior Ilan Goldstein recorded his fourth double-double of the season, putting up 52 assists along with a team-high 12 digs.
For the Pride, senior Mark Ribero notched 19 kills while fellow senior Ryan Fredrickson tallied a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs.
The Violets return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 25, when they travel to Hoboken, NJ, to take on Stevens Institute of Technology at 7:00 pm. The match-up with be the third of the season between the two teams, the Ducks having won the first two.
