The #11-ranked New York University women's volleyball team defeated the University of California, Santa Cruz before suffering a defeat to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Saturday, September 21, at the John A. Paulson Center in Manhattan. 

In their first match of the day, the Violets knocked of the Banana Slugs in four sets, 25-21, 25-21, 18-25, 25-15. NYU was then swept by the Engineers, 21-25, 22-25, 10-25. 

Despite trailing for the start of the first set in the day's opening contest, the Violets rallied from down 15-12 to up 21-16. UC Santa Cruz managed to later stave off three straight set points, but Chloe Hynes clinched the frame with a kill. 

NYU then opened the second set with a 9-0 lead, but a 15-6 run by the Banana Slugs evened the score. With the two teams tied, 17-17, the Violets scored six of the next seven points to take a five-point advantage. NYU wound up winning the set, 25-21.

The Violets led for just one rally in the third set, as the Banana Slugs stayed alive in the match with a 25-18 set win. 

However, NYU got off to a quick start in the fourth set, opening the frame with an 18-9 advantage. It then won the match with a 25-15 set win. 

Hynes led the way with 17 kills along with three aces. Yooni Park posted 24 digs, while Ava Launsbach tallied 24 assists.

In the final match of the weekend, the Violets jumped out to a 9-3 lead over the Engineers in the first set. With NYU later in front 16-11, MIT used a 7-1 run to take its first lead of the tilt. Tied at 18-18, the Engineers scored seven of the final 10 points to take the set. 

In the second set, the Violets once again started strong, leading 11-4 to begin the stanza. It was immediately followed up by a 7-1 MIT run to cut the deficit to one. Though NYU once again grew its advantage to five, leading 18-13, six straight Engineer points gave them the lead. The Violets jumped back in front by scoring three of the next four points, but MIT ended the set with a 5-1 run.

The Engineers then finished the match in the third set with a 25-10 win to hand NYU its second loss of the weekend. 

Grace Nelson collected a team-high seven kills, while Launsbach recorded 13 assists. Park registered 14 digs.

The Violets return to the court on Saturday, September 28, when they face Carnegie Mellon University at 11:00am, as a part of the UAA Round Robin #1 at the Paulson Center. That same day, they will also take on Brandeis University at 1:00pm. The following day, NYU closes out the round robin against the University of Chicago at 12:00pm.