It had to end at some point...and the last three went to Vassar.

In a thrilling five-set match in the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament Semifinals, New York University had its 2024 season come to its conclusion in dramatic fashion.          

Hosted by Loras College in Dubuque, IA, the Vassar Brewers outlasted the NYU Violets 25-21, 20-25, 18-25, 25-19, 21-19 to move on to the National Final. 

Both teams held match point several times in the final set. But, with the the Violets ahead 19-18, they could not get the final point as the Brewers took the last three and ended NYU's season.  

"It was hard-fought match. They played their hearts out," said Head Coach Jose Pina. "Im very proud of our guys. We just came up a little bit short against a very experienced Vassar team."

The Violets never led in the first set, though they did overcome a five-point deficit (13-8) and claw their way into a tie at 21-21 following a 3-0 run which featured a Buddy Cohen kill and two Vassar attack errors.

However, the Brewers took the next four points to clinch the opening set.   

NYU took its first lead of the match when Vassar opened the second set with a service error. That was followed by a kill from Lucas Osiecki and a Brewer attack error as the Violets opened the set up 3-0 and never relinquished the lead.   

The advantage increased to a set-high seven points, 17-10, on a kill by Emerson Evans.

Vassar crept within 22-20, but the Violets scored the final three points with a combo block from Cohen and Luke Boyer ending the set.

The Brewers scored the first four points of the third set, but the Violets managed to overcome the deficit and take a 7-6 lead following Ry Kagan's solo block. 

Five ties ensued before a 4-0 streak gave NYU some breathing room at 16-12. The lead grew to seven, 24-17, on a Brewers' attack error and the set ended on a service error.  

The Violets led by three points early in the fourth set. But, with the score tied 12-12, Vassar scored the next three points and held on the rest of the way. NYU did pull within a point on a pair of occasions, but could not catch up. The Brewers scored the last four points to send the match into a fifth and final set.

NYU trailed by three in the final set, but used a 4-0 rally to turn a 9-6 deficit into a 10-9 lead. Five match points ensued for the Violets, but they could not produce the winner, finally succumbing on a successful Brewer block. 

Osiecki finished with a match-high 19 kills, with Boyer (14) and Evans (10) also reaching double-digits. Cohen added eight with a team-best .417 hitting percentage while also totaling a match-high five blocks.

"We stuck to our game plan," Cohen explained. "We knew what we were going to get from them and they knew what they were going to get from us."

The teams had split their two previous meetings this season.

"We were well-prepared for this match," Cohen added. 

On the backline, libero Zach Knudsen recorded a match-high 17 digs on 40 receptions without committing a error.

"I went into the match with the mindset I have nothing to lose and I was going to try and make as big of an impact as possible," Knudsen revealed. "It was a dream to be here tonight. It hurts right now, but we can leave this season with the utmost pride in getting as far as we did." 

Devyn Nguyen added 15 digs and matched his career high with 54 assists. Osiecki completed his double-double with 12 digs.    

The Violets, who were making their first-ever appearance in the National Semifinal, finished the season 20-8.  

"We had a heck of a season. We kept improving," Pina concluded. "It's sad now, but an experience they will remember forever."