NEW YORK – The Yeshiva University men's volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking five-set loss to York College (N.Y.), at the Max Stern Athletic Center, on Wednesday evening. Set scores were 25-15, 19-25, 22-25, 25-19, and 15-11.

For the Maccabees, junior opposite hitter Derek Orenshein slammed home eight kills and had a solid match defensively with five digs. Senior middle blocker Yosef Ajami and junior outside hitter Joseph Sulaymanov each had six kills, with the former scoring four service aces and the latter registering five digs. Graduate libero Sibi Selvarajah led all players with 22 digs, while sophomore setter Benjamin Goldstein tallied 23 assists, seven digs, four service aces, and a pair of kills.

After dropping the first set, Yeshiva started the second stanza strong with three straight points to take a 7-4 lead. After York (3-6) pulled to within one, YU scored three consecutive points again, capped off by Orenshein's service ace, to put the Blue and White up by a score of 10-6. Later in the game, the Cardinals went on a 4-1 run to shrink Yeshiva's lead to 19-17. However, a kill by Ajami highlighted four straight points for the home team to increase the Macs' cushion to 23-17. Yeshiva ended up winning the second stanza, 25-19, to even the match at one set apiece.

The Maccabees got off to a rough start in the third frame, falling behind 6-0. However, a kill by Orenshein sparked a 5-1 run to pull YU to within two. After York scored a point, Ajami carried the Maccabees to six unanswered points, thanks to three service aces, to propel his team to an 11-8 advantage. Later, sophomore middle blocker Steven Zelmanovich's service ace highlighted five consecutive points for the Macs, extending their cushion to 17-11. The Cardinals responded with a 7-2 run to shrink the Maccabees' advantage to 19-18. Yeshiva recovered and earned a set-point opportunity, at 24-21. York scored on YU's first chance but Goldstein slammed home a kill to clinch the Macs' second game-victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match and put the opposition on the brink.

Yeshiva had an early 9-6 advantage in the fourth set, but York went on a 6-2 run to jump out in front, 12-11. Ajami responded with a kill to tie the stanza. Later, the Cardinals surged to a 10-4 run to take a commanding 23-17 hold. Sulaymanov tallied a kill to stop the bleeding, but York scored two of the next three points to win the set and force the rubber game.

The Cardinals' momentum carried into the fifth set, as they took a commanding 7-0 lead. With Yeshiva down 12-4, Zelmanovich slammed home a kill to spark 7-1 run to pull the Blue and White to within two, at 13-11. However, the Cardinals scored the final two points to clinch the fifth set and earn the come-from-behind match-victory.

For Yeshiva, junior outside hitter Jonathan Apsan had three kills and just as many digs.

For York, freshman outside hitter David Heyliger, Jr. led all players with 21 kills and five blocks, while adding eight digs and three service aces. Junior outside hitter Akil Vaughn just missed a double-double with 19 kills and nine digs.

Yeshiva will travel to Ramapo College, on Sunday, to compete in a Skyline Conference tri-match. The Maccabees will battle the Panthers of Purchase College at 1:00 p.m., and then take on the host Roadrunners at 3:00 p.m.