Brooklyn, NY---The Brooklyn College men's volleyball team won its second match in a row in as many days, defeating Cairn University, 3-1 (25-18, 18-25, 30-28, 25-22). Brooklyn improves to 11-8 with the non-conference victory while Cairn drops to 5-13. The Bulldogs return to conference play at CCNY on Thursday, March 22nd.
By the Set
-Leading the Highlanders 16-15, the Bulldogs built a cushion with a four-score rally started by a kill put away by sophomore outside hitter, Gabriel Pjatak. Sophomore middle hitter Ahmed Moawad ended the set with a kill assisted by senior middle blocker
Ian Miranda.
-Brooklyn carried its momentum from the first set into the second, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. However, Cairn responded with a 4-0 rally for the 4-3 advantage. Trailing the Bulldogs13-12, the Highlanders took the lead for good beginning with a three-point rally. Cairn tied the match on three straight scores to end the second set including a pair of kills.
-The highlight of the match was the marathon third set, where every play counted. With the score tied, 16-16, the Bulldogs looked to be in control following a three-score rally started by back-to-back kills. However, CU battled back to tie the set, 21-21 following a three-point rally of its own. On the brink of losing the match's lead, the Bulldogs would score twice on a pair of Cairn errors to retake the advantage. Following a Cairn service error, freshman opposite, Abrakali Aliyev ended the set with a block.
-Looking like the match would head into a deciding set with the Higlanders leading BC, 21-18, the Bulldogs responded in a huge way with a five-point rally beginning with a Miranda kill. BC ended the match on a Pjatak kill.
Leading the Bulldogs
-Junior outside hitter Vaugh Titus finished with a team-high 16 kills. Pjatak added 14 kills.
-Junior setter, Sayuj Zachariah, finished with a team-high 31 assists.
-Sophomore libero, Snigdho Hasan, finished with a match-high 11 digs.
Leading Cairn
-Micah Godshall finished with a match-high 28 kills.
-Ryan Ludvik finished with a match-high 41 assists.