Newbury Upsets Vassar

Beginning the home season with a victory is most always considered a good start.  Upsetting the #1 team in the New England Collegiate Volleyball Association and redeeming a loss that ended a fantastic run in 2008 is even sweeter.  Tonight, in a match played at Hellenic College, the Newbury College Nighthawks defeated the visiting Brewers from Vassar College by a score of 3-2 - with hopes that they will savor the win just long enough to let the momentum drive them through the upcoming months of their season. 

The Nighthawks were led by Mark Thomas (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) and Joshua Aberly (Palatine, IL/Palatine) who recorded 20 and 19 kills, respectively.  Both players put up impressive blocking numbers as well, with Thomas contributing on six, while Aberly added five.  Head coach Jaime Terenzi was impressed with how well Aberly played his role;  "Josh was our go-to guy tonight - when we needed a big play, he came through."

Overall, the Newbury veterans stayed together when the going got tough.  Setting the pace of the match with relentless desire, the Nighthawks won the first set 33-31, and dominated set two defeating the Brewers 30-21.  Vassar rallied in sets three and four, scraping out the win by a score of 31-29 in set three and shutting down the shaken Nighthawks 30-18 in set four.  Newbury would regroup, calling on the leadership of their veterans - a group who had been in this same place, with this same team before, to take set five by a score of 15-12. 

Playing well for the Brewers were Phil Tully (Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman) and Evan Fredericksen (Menlo Park, CA/Menlo Atherton) who registered 22 and 17 kills, respectively.  Tully also had 11 digs, while Fredericksen came away with three blocks. 

Newbury will host Emmanuel and Mount Ida Colleges on Saturday, January 24, 2009 for a tri-match beginning at 11:00 AM.