BROOKLYN – The Yeshiva University men's volleyball team was victorious in its Skyline contest against Sarah Lawrence College, 3-0, during a conference tri-match at The Hill Center on Sunday afternoon. Set scores were 25-18, 25-20, and 26-24. It marks YU's first conference victory of the season. Earlier in the day, Yeshiva suffered a 3-1 loss to host-St. Joseph's University Brooklyn (27-25, 25-22, 15-25, and 25-21).

In YU's (4-10, 1-4 Skyline) victory over Sarah Lawrence (0-9, 0-4 Skyline), senior middle blocker Eliezer Benjamin led the attack with nine kills, a hitting percentage of .467, and a pair of service aces. Classmate Benjamin Smillie had a strong match both offensively and defensively with eight kills and nine digs. Senior outside hitter Amitai Kolom also had a productive match with seven kills, just as many digs, and three assists. Sophomore setter Eidan Horn recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 13 digs, both match-highs, while adding three kills. Senior libero Avi Braun provided 10 digs.

Sarah Lawrence had an early 1-0 lead in the opening set, but Yeshiva scored five of the next six points, capped off by back-to-back kills from senior outside hitter Shmuel Aberman, to put Yeshiva in front. The Maccabees forced the Gryphons to play catchup the rest of the stanza. With Yeshiva hanging on to a 14-12 benefit, a pair of kills by both junior middle blocker Lavi Friedman and Smillie propelled YU to eight straight points to strengthen its hold to 22-12. The Macs went on to win the opening set, 25-18.

Yeshiva led from wire-to-wire in the second frame. A pair of kills and an ace courtesy of Benjamin highlighted a 7-1 run by the Maccabees to inflate their advantage to 19-11. Sarah Lawrence managed to rally and narrow the Macs' benefit to 22-20, but Benjamin and Kolom responded with back-to-back kills to give Yeshiva a set-point opportunity. Benjamin did not waste any time as he took the set by Horn and slammed home a kill to secure the victory in the second game for the Maccabees to give them a 2-0 lead in the match.

YU trailed by a score of 14-13 in the third stanza, but responded with a 6-1 run to grab a 19-15 advantage. The Gryphons stormed back with four straight points to tie it up. After each team scored two points, Kolom converted a successful attack to spark two straight points for YU, putting them up by a score of 23-21. Each team exchanged one point which resulted in Yeshiva earning a set-point opportunity. The Gryphons were not ready to go down as they scored two consecutive points to tie it up. However, a kill by Smillie allowed YU to regain the lead and then an attack error by Sarah Lawrence clinched the conference victory for the Maccabees.

Friedman finished the match with six kills, three blocks, and a pair of digs for YU. Aberman provided three kills and just as many digs. Graduate defensive specialist Michael Stark chipped in with five digs. Sophomore right side hitter Zanvy Lesnoy generated three digs, a service ace, and an assist.

Earlier in the day against St. Joseph's University Brooklyn (3-8, 2-3 Skyline), the Maccabees won the fourth set, 25-15, but suffered three close losses to fall by a score of 3-1.

Braun had another strong defensive match with 26 digs, the second most in a single match in program history. Braun produced 30 digs to set the record, at Purchase College, this past Thursday evening. Smillie slammed home seven kills and had a strong match defensively with 18 digs, while adding two service aces and a pair of assists. Horn tallied another double-double with 31 assists and 13 digs, while adding four kills, two service aces, and just as many blocks.

Kolom tallied nine kills and 12 digs, while Friedman scored 10 kills and produced five blocks. Benjamin had a solid match with nine kills, four digs, and two service aces. Aberman provided seven digs on the defensive side. Lesnoy added two digs of his own.

Yeshiva will take on New Jersey City University, at John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center, on Tuesday evening. The Skyline contest will begin at 7:00 p.m.