After defeating then-top-ranked Carthage College on Friday, the New York University Men's Volleyball Team faced the new #1 team, Springfield College, on Wednesday, January 26, at the Brooklyn Athletic Facility.

The #5 Violets (1-1) dropped the first two sets, came back to win the next two, but ultimately fell to the new #1 Pride (4-0) in a five-set thriller 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 19-25, 17-15. 

"It was a strong comeback and showed resiliency in taking the match to five after dropping the first two sets," said Head Coach José Piña. "This is a part of the learning process. These guys haven't played together for almost two years and are just getting to know each other and get comfortable with each other. But, to play this way against top-ranked teams in back-to-back games is a great way to start the season."

NET NOTES:

- Springfield took its first lead of the opening set at 19-18 and never trailed again.

- There were nine ties in the second set. With the score knotted at 13-13, Springfield scored the next two points and held the lead the rest of the way. 

- Neither team led by more than three points in the third set and there were 14 ties. The Violets were down 24-23, one point away from being swept. But, a service error by Springfield, followed by a kill from Owen Wahlgren (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove North) and a service ace by James Haag (Macungie, PA/Emmaus) gave NYU the set. 

- NYU's six-point fourth-set lead, 15-9, was the largest by either team in the match. 

- In the deciding set, neither team led by more than a point until Springfield went ahead 9-7. However, NYU scored the next three points and no one led by two again until the final point of the match - a block by Springfield's Nate Reynolds and Matt Lilley.

STATS RIGHT:

- Haag (18) and Wahlgren (14) posted double-digit kills for the Violets.

- Race Agcaoili (Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) led NYU with 12 digs, while Ryan Whealen (Fenton, MO/St. Louis University HS) finished with a match-high and career-high tying 50 assists.

The Violets return to action this weekend at The Clash at Kean University in Union, NJ.  NYU's first foe will be Misericordia University on Friday, January 28, at 7:30pm. The Violets will face St. Joseph's College-LI (1:30pm) and Alvernia University (4:00pm) on Saturday.