Men's Volleyball | 4/10/2022 4:38:00 PM
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – For the first time in its five-year history, the nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College men's volleyball team will vie for a national championship as the Cardinals, who are ranked 15th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, defeated No. 6 New Paltz to win the United Volleyball Conference Championship and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship. With the win, Fisher improved to 24-7 while the Hawks will now await word on their NCAA fate after concluding the weekend at 20-6.
Josh Bigford was named the Championship's Most Outstanding Player after the senior produced 18 kills to go along with 12 digs and four blocks in the championship match.
Jake Baker equaled Bigford's kill total with 18 of his own and was credited with seven digs, four blocks and two service aces while
Paul Hackford had seven digs and five kills over five sets.
Evan Ingerick was the driving force behind Fisher's offense with 42 assists while
David Cerqua finished with a team-high 13 digs in the win.
After falling in the first set 25-21, Fisher had the Hawks on the ropes after taking the next two sets and building an early 9-8 lead in the fourth.
Holding a one-point edge, the Cardinals saw the Hawks battle back after New Paltz scored three of the set's next four points to take a 12-11 edge. The momentum would shift again, however, as the frame wore on with Fisher stringing together four unanswered points that included three critical errors by the Hawks that made it 15-12.
As the set continued, Fisher saw its lead dwindle with the host cutting the gap to two with a kill that made it 20-18. From there, New Paltz found a rhythm with the Hawks scoring five straight points and seven of the set's final nine points to force a fifth and deciding frame.
Deadlocked at two sets apiece and a spot in the NCAA Championship up for grabs, both teams looked to assert themselves early, but it would be Fisher that got off to a strong start with head coach
Stephen England's team building a four-point cushion following a 4-0 run.
Trailing 7-3, New Paltz looked to stop the bleeding and cut the lead down to two, but the Cardinals regrouped with three quick points to push their lead to five, 13-8.
With the title in sight, Fisher was unable to put the Hawks away quickly as the home team hammered home three consecutive kills and took advantage of a pair of errors from the Cardinals to pull to within 14-13, prompting a timeout.
After the break in action, New Paltz headed to the service line where Bigford sent a perfect pass to Ingerick who set up Baker for the championship-clinching kill.
The Cardinals, who defeated two top-10 opponents in the last two days, will now await word of where and whom they'll play in the opening round of the NCAA Championship during the Selection Show, which will air at 10 a.m. Monday morning on ncaa.com.
