Nighthawks Fall to No. 9 Vassar

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The season opening match for the No. 9 nationally ranked Vassar College men's volleyball team had all the makings of an epic marathon against visiting Newbury College, but a mix of newcomers blended with veteran leadership propelled the Brewers to a workmanlike 3-0 (30-27, 30-20, 30-26) victory in the debut match for new head coach Antonia Sweet. 

In posting their first win of the 2010 campaign, the Brewers were consistent throughout, with 54 kills nicely distributed in the three sets. The Brewers will attempt to carry that flow into their next home match against No. 3 ranked Springfield College on Friday at 5:00 p.m. Newbury falls to 0-3 on the season and will play in the Stevens Invitational this weekend. 

All-America senior hitter Phil Tully began his final season in auspicious fashion, leading the Brewers with 18 kills on 26 attempts with only one error. Tully's .654 attack percentage spearheaded a Vassar team that hit .377 and made only 14 errors throughout a competitive match. 

Freshman Matthew Elgin had an impressive debut with 11 kills with one error and a .556 hitting percentage. Junior Evan Fredericksen chipped in with nine kills, all coming when the Brewers were in need of a point to fend off a feisty Newbury team. Freshman John Konow had 46 set assists and in his return match after missing last season, senior Andres Posada had 12 digs. 

Newbury, which led for much of the third set before surrendering to a Vassar comeback, only hit .218, and made several serving and attack errors at importune times. The Nighthawks were led by senior Mark Thomas with 11 kills and junior James Beck with nine. Junior Matt Talamantes had 26 assists. Beck contributed 26 digs. 

Vassar's first set 30-27 win gave the Brewers both momentum and confidence heading into the second and third sets. Although the first set was tied only three times, it was hotly contested and the longest in duration of the three played. While the Brewers were able to break out to an 18-10 lead following a Newbury service error, the Nighthawks steadily chipped away and got within 22-20 after a service ace by junior Max Daley. Newbury trailed 26-25 after a kill by Talamantes, but a string of kills by Vassar's Fredericksen, sophomore hitter Lucas Rathjens and a final blast by Tully secured the three point win. Rathjens had a career-high seven kills for the Brewers. 

The second set was tied only once, 2-2, before the Brewers broke out to a commanding 17-10 lead and won easily, 20-10. Tully had seven of his 18 kills in this set, and was supported by freshman Patrick Donohue, who collected five of his seven kills in this set. The Brewers hit .368 with only five attack errors. Newbury trailed throughout, able to generate only 11 kills. Beck and Talamantes both had three kills for the Nighthawks. 

Newbury's play in the third set gave every indication that a fourth set was possible, but Vassar showed poise and patience in mounting an impressive comeback. Behind a six kill set by senior Joshua Aberly, the Nighthawks broke out to a 5-1 lead and held firm for most of the set. 

Tully, Fredericksen and Elgin, each of whom had five kills in the set, kept the Brewers in striking position. Behind a thunderous kill by Tully, Vassar tied the match for the first time at 21-21, but were forced to tie the game twice more, the last at 24-24, before winning six of the final eight points. Newbury made only three attack errors, but they all came when the Brewers were in strong defensive position, led by the all-court play of Posada, Konow and Elgin.

- Game story submitted by Robin Jonathan Deutsch, Sports Information Director - Vassar College