BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University men's volleyball team opened the 2019 season in grand fashion, defeating Pratt Institute by a score of 3-1, at the Pratt ARC on Wednesday evening. Set scores were 20-25, 25-23, 25-8, and 25-12. The last time the Maccabees (1-0) defeated the Cannoneers (1-4) was in the HVIAC championship match in 2015.

"We started off with a little bit of nerves due to the fact that it was our first match, but once the jitters passed the team clicked!" Yeshiva University head coach Dalliana Toussaint said. "There's a different vibe this year and this match set the tone for the season." 

Leading the way for the Maccabees was senior outside hitter Chaim Aryeh Rubin, who slammed home eight kills and anchored the defense with 10 digs. Junior middle blocker Adam Gerszberg produced six kills, recorded four digs, had three service aces, registered a pair of assists, and had just as many blocks. Second-year opposite hitter Derek Orenshein provided five kills of his own, while classmate Isaac Pomerance had a match-high 13 assists to go along with four digs. Senior libero Sibi Selvarajah chipped in on defense with six digs, while sophomore defensive specialist Eliyahou Benhamou scored four service aces.

In the opening set, Gerszberg's kill capped off a 4-0 run by YU to put the Blue and White up, 8-7. After Pratt rallied to take an 18-16 advantage, Gerszberg scored two service aces to highlight a 5-0 run to propel YU to a 20-18 lead. However, the home team finished the opening set strong by scoring seven unanswered points to win the opening game.

In the second set, Benhamou nailed three aces to spark a 5-0 run for the Maccabees, on their way to a 25-23 victory to even the match at one set apiece.

In the third stanza, Orenshein's kill capped off six straight points by Yeshiva, putting the visiting team ahead by a score of 10-3. The Maccabees would not look back, as YU went on to win the third game, 25-8, and put Pratt on the brink of defeat.

Yeshiva went on a 6-0 run in the fourth set, capped off by a service ace from sophomore outside hitter Jonathan Apsan, to give the Maccabees a 7-2 hold. YU steadily increased its lead throughout the stanza. Rubin's service ace clinched the fourth set and the season-opening victory for Yeshiva.

For the evening, senior outside hitter Amitai Miller had six digs, while sophomore setter David Fleschner executed four assists. Junior middle blocker Yosef Ajami had two kills and three digs. Sophomore outside hitter Joseph Sulaymanov recorded a pair of digs of his own. Apsan had a kill, two aces, and just as many digs, while junior setter Elliott Dosetareh had an assist.

The Maccabees will compete against the Gothic Knights, on the campus of New Jersey City University, on Thursday, February 21, at 8:00 p.m.