A resilient New York University men's volleyball team, ranked #10 in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), defeated #8 Wentworth Institute of Technology in a five-set match on Saturday, January 27, in Boston, MA. 

The Violets (3-2) won the first two sets by scores of 25-23 and 25-16, but fell short in sets three and four by identical 25-23 scores. However, NYU came back invigorated and won the match by taking the final set 15-6.

"It was a grind for sure, but we showed a lot of determination in that final set," said Head Coach Jose Pina. "Would have been really tough to lose after taking the first two sets and coming so close in the next two."

In an incredibly-tight first set, neither team led by more than one point until the Leopards (4-2) went up by two, 20-18. The Violets, however, scored the next two to tied the score once again. Then, after three more ties, NYU scored the frame's last two points for the 25-23 victory.

In the second set, the Violets led only 6-5, but scored the next nine points en route to a 25-16 win.  

Wentworth led off the third set by scoring the first two points and seven of the first eight to take command early. NYU did rally and tie the score at 10-10 on Alex Li's kill. However, the Leopards scored the next six points and took the lead for good. The Violets pulled within 24-23, but a kill by Wentworth's John Roat ended the set.

The fourth set resembled the first, as the teams traded points early. With the score knotted at 8-8, the Violets went ahead by scoring the next two points and eventually opened a 17-13 lead. But, the advantage was short-lived as Wentworth went on a 7-0 run to take its biggest lead. Still trailing 23-19, NYU scored the next four points to pull even. But, a Wentworth kill and service ace gave the Leopards the set by the identical 25-23 score.

The fifth set was determined early, as the Violets got out to as 4-1 advantage and never relinquished the lead. They finally clinched the grueling match on a Wentworth attack error.

"Our team has a lot of confidence, and the players believe in each other. Coming out so fast in that final set helped take the pressure off us and took their crowd and their bench out of the equation a bit," Pina added. "A win like this is great, but we also don't want to let ourselves get into these type of struggles when we have a chance to close things out earlier in a match."

Li and Evan Lindley each finished with 16 kills, with Lindley posting a .538 hitting percentage. 

AT THE NET:

- Neil Ferraro also contributed double-digit kills (12), committing only one error and producing a .611 hitting percentage. 

- Matin Bikdeli finished with a match-high 41 assists.

- Connor Keowen led the Violets with 11 digs, while Bikdeli added nine.

- Collin Ritter led Wentworth with 16 kills.

The Violets remain in Beantown for another match on Sunday, when they complete their weekend road trip at Emmanuel College. First serve is set for 12:00 PM.