The #8-ranked New York University men's volleyball team returned to conference play with a five-set defeat to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Saturday, March 7, in Cambridge, MA. 

After taking the opening two sets, the Violets dropped the next three in a 22-25, 17-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-11 loss.

In the opening frame, the Engineers raced out to an 11-6 advantage before NYU answered with a 7-3 run to get to within one. Later down 17-15, the Violets won four of the next five points to take a one-point edge. 

The two teams then traded points to bring the score to 22-21 with MIT leading. The Engineers would not score again however, as NYU finished the set with four straight points.

The Violets trailed just once in the second frame and led by as much as eight. Ahead 13-11, NYU extended its lead with a 4-1 run. With MIT unable to cut the deficit to less than three, the Violets took the second set 25-17. 

In a back-and-forth third frame, the Violets held a 13-12 edge at the halfway point. It would be the last time NYU held a lead, though, as the Engineers scored three consecutive points and did not trail for the remainder of the set. 

The Violets did get back to within two, down 21-19, but MIT took the set after winning four of the final five rallies. 

Much of the fourth frame was closely contested before the Engineers pulled away late in the set. After NYU went up 2-1, the Engineers put down back-to-back kills and did not fall behind again. 

Up 15-13, MIT gained breathing room with 9-3 run and brought up set point. Despite the Violets defending three straight set points, a kill by the Engineers forced a decisive fifth stanza.

The Violets out to a 5-3 lead in the final set but could not maintain control, as MIT took the lead for good with a 9-2 run. The Engineers went on to clinch the match with a 15-11 set win.  

Emerson Evans led the attack with 20 kills on .333 hitting and Devyn Nguyen facilitated the offense with 42 assists. 

NYU will return to the court tomorrow with a non-conference matchup against Emmanuel College in Boston, MA, at 12:00pm.