The 14th-ranked New York University men's volleyball team defeated Arcadia University 3-1 on Saturday, February 24, in Glenside, PA.

The 5-5 Violets rebounded from losing the first set, 22-25, to win 25-9, 25-20, 25-19.

"This was a real good bounce-back win against a game and quality Arcadia team," said Head Coach José Piña. "Our serving was outstanding and our serve receive was really good today." 

Both teams traded points early in the first set before NYU went on a five-point scoring streak to take a 9-4 lead. The Violets held the advantage as both teams continued to exchange points to 21-18. Arcadia took the lead at 23-21 after scoring five unanswered points, the first time they led in the set. 

The Violets scored one more point through a Devyn Nguyen kill, but Arcadia won the opener following two NYU errors.

NYU started the second with a 5-0 lead. The Knights scored one point, but the Violets went on another streak, racking up four points in a row to take a commanding 9-1 edge. 

The Violets continued to dominate the second set, as the Knights were unable to score more than two points in a row. The Violets found their groove, as they put together successive three-point scoring runs to extend the lead 20-6. Arcadia only recorded three more points for the set, as the Violets won the second convincingly and tied the match.

NYU broke a 4-4 tie early in the third set and took a 6-4 lead following an Emerson Evans kill and a service ace. The set remained competitive as both teams traded one or two points at a time. The Knights took the lead at 14-13, but the Violets scored three in a row to regain the lead. 

The Knights scored another point, but NYU then tallied six uninterrupted to widen the gap to 22-15. The Violets conceded three straight points as the Knights pulled to within 23-19. However, two Arcadia service errors put NYU 2-1 up in the match.

The Violets started the fourth set with another 5-0 lead. The Knights almost equalized by scoring four points to make the score 6-5. NYU responded with their own four-point streak to create another five-point advantage.

Four consecutive Knight errors put NYU firmly in control of the set and the match at 16-9. The Knights closed the score to 23-18, but kills from Lucas Osiecki and Ry Kagan clinched the match. 

"Outstanding match by Ry Kagan, who continues to have a really top-level season," said Piña. "Luke Boyer also had a strong attacking match. All in all, it's a good win as we continue to work on getting better."

Boyer posted 13 kills, while Kagan and Osiecki recorded 12 and 10, respectively. Kagan also had a match-high six blocks. 

Evans put up a match-high three aces, as the Violets had 10 to Arcadia's zero. Nguyen orchestrated another 37 assists to add to his season total of 395. He also recorded a match-high 10 digs.

The Violets head on the road again for their next match to play New Jersey City University on Tuesday, February 27, in Jersey City, NJ.