Box Score
Led by senior captain Devin Zolnowski, who recorded a career-high-tying 29 kills, the New York University men's volleyball team outlasted Division III rival Vassar College in five sets on Tuesday, March 24, at Kenyon Hall in Poughkeepsie, NY.
The Violets (6-17), currently ranked #10 in the Bison/AVCA Division III Men's Coaches Top 15 Poll, rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to defeat the eighth-ranked Brewers (16-6) 3-2 (27-30, 30-24, 27-30, 30-27, 15-11). The win marked the first time the Violets have defeated a higher ranked team during the 2009 campaign.
"The boys played well and showed a lot of grit, rallying from a 2-1 deficit against a quality team like Vassar," head coach Jose Pina said after the match. "This win is a great continuation of the progress we've shown over the past few weeks."
After dropping the first set 30-27, the Violets jumped ahead of the Brewers early in the second set, taking a 13-8 lead off of a Zolnowski kill, forcing Vassar to talk it over.
Coming out of the timeout, NYU built its lead to eight at 17-9. Vassar rallied within six at 20-14. However, the Violets quickly regained their composure, taking a 10-point lead at 27-17, before a kill from sophomore Fran Hodgson gave NYU the win at 30-24.
In the third set, the Brewers switched up their lineup and the changes quickly paid dividends as they took a quick 11-6.
After Vassar built its lead to seven at 17-10, the Violets attempted a rally, trimming the Brewer lead to two at 21-19. However, Vassar took three of the next four points to take a four-point lead which proved to be enough as the Brewers took set three 30-27.
In the fourth set, the Violets jumped out to a five-point lead at 10-5, forcing Vassar to take a timeout.
Coming out of the stoppage, the teams traded the next 10 points before NYU went on a four-point run which included kills from Hodgson and Zolnowski and a service ace from freshman Luke Hamlet to take a 18-11 lead.
The Brewers tried to muster a comeback, pulling within four at 20-16 before the Violets re-built their lead to six at 23-17. Vassar would cut the lead to two at 29-27 before Hamlet put down a kill on the next play to take the set 30-27.
The fifth set saw the Violets come out firing, taking a 8-5 lead off of a kill from junior Michael Ferragonio. On the next play, Hodgson put back a solo block and the Violets were rolling, building a six-point lead at 14-8 on their way to a 15-11 fifth-set victory.
On offense for the Violets, three players recorded double-digit kills. Along with Zolnowski, Hodgson recorded 17 kills while hitting .519. Ferragonio tallied 15 along with a team-high three services aces.
Hamlet also recorded a strong all-around match, putting down nine kills while adding a match-high seven blocks.
Senior captain and setter Ilan Goldstein recorded his fourth 60-plus assists match of the season, recording 61 while adding eight digs and three blocks.
On defense, freshman Jay Hayes recorded his ninth double-digit digs match of his career, putting up 11.
For the Brewers, senior Phil Tully recorded a double-double with 26 kills and 16 digs.
The Violets return to action this Saturday, March 28, when they host EIVA Hay Division rival Harvard University for Family Day and Senior Day. First serve is set for 3:00 pm.
