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Box Score | UVC Tournament Page

The #8-seeded New York University men's volleyball team (17-11) lost in the finals of the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Tournament on Sunday, April 13, to #2 SUNY New Paltz (26-3), in Rochester, NY. The match lasted three sets with scores of 25-17, 25-17, 25-22.
 
These two squads met earlier this season on March 13. That match also ended in straight sets with New Paltz coming out on top.
 
"The outcome may have been the same, but this match was nothing like the first time our two teams met," said NYU Head Coach Jose Pina. "We improved so much since that first meeting and I am proud of how well we played today."
 
New Paltz jumped out to an early 8-2 lead in the opening set, but NYU did not allow the Hawks to run away with it. Following a NYU timeout, it was a Nick Capriccio kill that cut the lead to just one point at 14-13. The Violets would never be able to take the lead as the Hawks eventually captured the set 25-17.
 
"They have an outstanding service game that is predicated on power, but we were able to make runs in the first and keep some pressure on them." said Pina.
 
The second set also saw a score of 14-13 in favor of the Hawks and once again NYU was never able to even the count. This time it was a Colin LaPorte kill that cut the lead to just one. New Paltz went on to capture four consecutive points and eventually the set at 25-17.
 
"We may have lost the first two sets by the same margin, but I could see the guys improving as the match went on," said Pina. "That is really all I could ever ask from them."
 
The third set was the tightest of them all, with no team ever holding a lead larger than three. The set saw five lead changes and nine ties with the final one coming at 21. The Hawks went on to secure four of the next five points and win the set 25-22.
 
"Losing is always disappointing, but I told my guys they have no reason to be anything but extraordinarily proud of themselves and each other today," added Pina. "We grew so much as a team this season. We had many setbacks this year, but persevered through all of them and began playing our best volleyball when it mattered most."
 
The win earned New Paltz an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III National Championships.
 
Highlights:
 
- Capriccio hit .625 with five kills and zero errors.
 
- Connor Mortland was perfect with 20 assists on 20 sets.

- LaPorte matched his seven kills with seven digs.
 
- Chase Klein had a team-high eight kills.
 
- Phil Bueno recorded five kills and four digs.