The New York University men's volleyball team (10-6, 2-2) played its fourth United Volleyball Conference (UVC) match of the season, beating Massachusetts Institute of Technology (13-5, 2-2) 3-1 on Saturday, March 16, at MIT's Rockwell Cage in Cambridge, MA.
 
The 14th-ranked Violets lost the first set 25-12, but came back to win 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 and solidify their second conference victory of the season.
 
"It was a hard-fought win by the young men today. We faced a bit of adversity with some of our regulars unable to play, but the boys responded well, made adjustments, and prevailed," said head coach José Piña. "A very important UVC conference victory for the squad."
 
NYU took a couple of early leads in the first set, but MIT raced to an 8-4 lead through a five-point streak. The Engineers scored six unanswered points at 15-10 to put them well ahead for the rest of the set.
 
The Violets were ahead again in the second set, but the Engineers were always within two points. However, with NYU ahead 17-16, a Luke Boyer kill followed by four MIT errors gave NYU breathing room to clinch the set.
 
NYU trailed early in the third set 11-8, but a three-point run featuring two Lucas Osiecki service aces tied it up. The Violets scored five points in a row, highlighted by an Emerson Evans kill and two from Boyer, to lead 16-12.
 
The Engineers came within two at 21-19, but kills from Ry Kagan and Evans and another Osiecki service ace put the Violets at match point. MIT scored another before NYU took a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
The Violets broke a 7-7 tie by scoring five successive points in the final set, featuring kills from Evans, Kagan, and Osiecki, as well as two service aces from Matthew Warter.
 
NYU held the lead for the rest of the set, going ahead 20-12 following another four-point scoring streak highlighted by an Evans kill and service ace. Kills from Osiecki and Kagan closed out the set.
 
"Sachin Dasari and Dylan Hsu came in as substitutes and helped tremendously in our victory. It was a very strong performance all around," added Piña.
 
Boyer led with 12 kills, while Evans and Osiecki each had 11. Osiecki also led the match with three service aces. Dasari had a match-high 34 assists and added seven digs.
 
The Violets stay in Boston to play Wentworth Institute of Technology on Sunday, March 17, at 1 p.m.