Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – The No. 13 St. John Fisher University men's volleyball team was outlasted by No. 7 Vassar in five sets in one of the top Division III matches of the weekend on Saturday afternoon at Kenyon Hall.
The Cardinals lost their second straight match and fell to 14-3 overall (2-1 United Volleyball Conference). Vassar, now 9-0 at home on the season, moved to 14-1 overall and 3-0 in the UVC.
How It Happened
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The Cardinals dropped the first set 25-19 before taking the second set 25-21 and the third 25-23.
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The Cardinals went on a 4-0 run in the second set to turn a 17-15 deficit into a 19-17 lead. Vassar pulled within one point twice, but the Cardinals never lost the lead down the stretch. Evan Hernandez recorded kills to score Fisher's final two points, securing the set win.
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The Cardinals weathered a late charge by Vassar after leading by as many as six points in the third set. After Vassar pulled within one (24-23), graduate senior Griffin Stella secured the 25-23 victory for Fisher with a kill.
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Vassar hit well over .300 and controlled the third set from start to finish en route to a 25-18 victory.
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After junior Casey Jackson tied the score at 12 with a kill in the fifth set, Vassar scored three of the final five points to take the set and the match.
Match Notes
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Hernandez, a freshman, led the Cardinals with 16 kills. He has had that many kills in two straight matches.
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Stella had 12 kills and logged a team-best .632 hitting percentage. He's hit over .600 in six matches this season.
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Senior Ian Rauh recorded 10 kills and hit .500. He also tallied five blocks.
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Freshman Coleton Welter amassed a season-high six blocks.
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Senior setter Gavin Newman had 34 assists and a team-best 14 digs. Senior libero Trace La Robardiere had 12 digs.
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Jackson led Fisher with a pair of service aces.
Up Next
The Cardinals head south for matches against Webber International University and Warner University on Wednesday, March 5, in Lake Wales, Fla.
