Men's Volleyball | 3/4/2022 10:17:00 PM
PITTSFORD, NY – In one of the toughest matchups of the season, the St. John Fisher College men's volleyball team overwhelmed No. 2 Vassar College in a United Volleyball Conference matchup, 3-1, Friday night inside Manning & Napier Varsity Gymnasium. With the win, Fisher, which is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll, improves to 13-4 on the season and 4-1 in the conference, while Vassar moves to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in the UVC.
The Cardinals offense flourished behind Jake Baker, who produced 18 kills, and Josh Bigford who earned 12 of his own. Paul Hackford was tremendous at setter, helping on 34 kills along with two aces and six digs, while libero David Cerqua found seven digs himself. The Cardinals created problems for the Brewers all night as freshman Griffin Stella tallied five blocks, followed by Bigford with four blocks.
Opening the match, Fisher jumped out to a 5-2 lead after Stella and Bigford combined for a block. The Cardinals would then produce another 5-2 run behind a pair of kills by Jake Baker giving the home team a 10-4 edge.
From there, the Cardinals continued to pour it on following aces by Hackford, Bigford and Baker to create a 20-12 lead. Vassar was able to rally late in the set, but it was not enough as Matt Beiter and Hackford each earned a kill to close out the set 25-17.
After taking set one, the Cardinals carried the momentum jumping out to a 6-1 lead behind a pair of aces by Baker. The Cardinals were able to jump ahead in the set 15-8, following several attacking and service errors by the Brewers. Vassar began to find its momentum, before Hackford found Bigford and Stella for a pair of kills giving Fisher an 18-12 edge.
From there, the Cardinals rallied for a 7-3 run behind a pair of kills by Baker and a thunderous set-winning kill by Beiter, giving Fisher a 25-15 win and a 2-0 match lead.
Not going away easy, the Brewers created a quick 6-1 run, forcing head coach Stephen England to take a timeout. Following the break, the Cardinals produced a 6-1 run of their own as Stella and Bigford combined for roof at the net, followed by a Baker kill from Hackford.
As the set wore on, a pair of rallies by both teams found the match tied up 15-15. The Brewers were then able to create another 6-1 run and take a commanding 21-17 lead late in the third set. Despite a pair of kills by Baker, Vassar was able to close the set on a 4-0 run to take set three, 25-20.
Leading 2-1 in the match, the Cardinals opened up a 3-1 lead after a pair of kills by Baker. The Brewers then found a couple kills along with a pair of blocks to give the road team a one-point advantage. The Cardinals would not give up as Hackford found the court on his serve for an ace, followed by a Bigford kill assisted by middle blocker Stella.
Leading 13-11 halfway through set four, the Brewers would put together an 8-5 run and take a 19-18 lead.
After a Vassar service error, the match was once again tied up right before Bigford earned his 12th kill of the match followed by a Cieplicki and Stella block to give the Cardinals a 21-19 lead.
Vassar would then generate a 5-1 run after three kills and two service aces, giving the Brewers a two-point lead late in set four.
Only needing one point to go to set five, the Brewers found themselves ahead 24-22, before Hackford assisted Cieplicki for a kill to close the gap to one.
With the crowd on its feet, the Brewers created an offensive attack with a chance to win the set, but Cieplicki and Beiter combined for an enormous block to tie the match at 24-24.
From there, Vassar would take a one-point lead, before a Kill by Baker and an error by the Brewers would give the Cardinals a match-winning opportunity.
Leading 26-25, the Cardinals were able to dig an attack by the Brewers as Cerqua found Baker at the net for the match-winning kill, giving the Cardinals a 27-25 set win and claim the match 3-1.
As a team, the Cardinals hit .350 with 43 kills, seven blocks and seven aces.
Following one of the biggest wins in program history, the Cardinals will return to action at 2 p.m. on Saturday as they take on No. 11 New York University inside Manning & Napier Varsity Gymnasium.