The #12-ranked New York University men's volleyball team defeated #8-ranked St. John Fisher University in five sets on Friday, April 5, at the John A. Paulson Center. The win clinches a United Volleyball Conference playoff spot for the Violets.

The Violets (15-7, 4-2) won the first two sets 25-21, 25-23, dropped the next two to the Cardinals (23-5, 4-2) 25-22, 25-20, before taking the fifth 15-9.

"It was a great win for the guys and the program today," said Head Coach José Piña. "St. John Fisher came in highly ranked and we won. But now we have to follow up with a win tomorrow against Nazareth University."

NYU was up 5-2 early in the first set thanks to three consecutive Cardinals' errors. However, St. John Fisher's five-point streak put NYU behind by two. A four-point Violet streak capped by a Ry Kagan kill gave NYU the lead for good. 

The Violets opened a seven-point gap thanks to a three-point run highlighted by a Lucas Osiecki kill. Luke Boyer's kill ended the set. 

The Cardinals managed a few early leads in the second set, but the Violets were quick to equal them. Down 6-5, a four-point NYU run featuring a kill from Osiecki and two from Emerson Evans meant its first lead of the set. 

NYU broke an 18-18 tie with four straight points through kills from Boyer and Evans, a Kagan service ace and a Cardinals' error. St. John Fisher came within 24-23, but an Osiecki kill ended the set.

St. John Fisher led multiple times in the third set, but NYU was never more than three points behind. The Violets tied it at 16-16 thanks to an Evans kill, and then Osiecki's kill tied the set at 20-20, but St. John Fisher was able to pull out the set. 

The Violets led on several occasions in the fourth set and were ahead 12-10 when the Cardinals took the lead for the first time after scoring three in a row. The teams traded points until a Cardinals' five-point streak put them ahead 21-18 and they held it for good.

NYU raced to a 6-2 lead in the fifth set by scoring five consecutive points capped by an Osiecki service ace. The Violets extended their lead to five through a three-point run, featuring kills from Buddy Cohen and Devyn Nguyen. The team closed out the match with another Osiecki kill and a match-winning combo block by Evans and Kagan. 

Kagan led the match with 16 kills, while Evans recorded 15 and Osiecki had 13. Nguyen assisted 52 times and came up with 13 digs. 

The Violets play against #17-ranked Nazareth University on Saturday, April 6, at 1:00 pm back at the Paulson Center. An NYU victory would clinch second place and result in a first-round bye at the UVC Tournament.