BRYN ATHYN, PA - Taking on their first double-header of the season, the Yeshiva men's volleyball team fell to Bryn Athyn College, losing to the Lions by scores of 1-3 and 0-3 on Sunday, Feb. 18.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees saw monster performances out of Lavi Friedman and Zanvy Lesnoy, with Friedman posting 15 kills over two matches, while Lesnoy tallied a career-high mark of 17 assists in match number one.
 
Yaakov Baker had a similarly impressive day on the defensive side of the ball, securing four blocks on the afternoon.
 
With the losses, the Macs are now 0-7.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED - Game One (L, 1-3)

• The Maccabees fell behind early in set number one, only managing four points off kills from Friedman and Eitan Cillo to Bryn Athyn's 14. While an Amiti Trabelsi kill would trigger back-to-back Maccabee points, it was not enough, as Yeshiva dropped the set, 25-7.
   
• The Macs would jump out to their first lead in set number two, topping the Lions 7-5 through the first 12 serves. While this advantage would not last, as a 10-2 Bryn Athyn run erased YU's margin, Yeshiva remained hot on their heels, closing within six at 24-18. Unfortunately the effort proved for naught, seeing Bryn Athyn take the period, 25-18.
   
• Both squads proved evenly matched early on in the third set, as back and forth runs saw the jumbotrons displaying sevens across the board. Intent to prove any doubters of their skill wrong, the Macs decided to turn the heat up, embarking on a 6-0 stretch that secured them a 13-9 advantage, one they would not surrender. While the Lions continued to fight, drawing with two points at 17-15, kills from Trabelsi, Friedman and Jonathan Werta kept the Maccabees one step ahead, closing out YU's first set win of the season, 25-20.
   
• Carrying their third set momentum into the fourth, Yeshiva once again jumped out to an early lead, one that they protected through the first half of the period. However, it was then that Macs began to run out of gas, finding themselves outscored 11-4 over the latter portion set, and ultimately falling 25-19.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Kills: Friedman (13), Amiti (3), Werta (2)
• Aces: Friedman (2), Cillo (1), Baker (1)
• Blocks: Baker (3), Lesnoy (1), Friedman (1)
• Assists: Lesnoy (17), Stark (1)
• Digs: Pinchot (8), Friedman (6), Cillo (5)

 
HOW IT HAPPENED - Game Two (L, 0-3)

• The teams kicked off the first set trading point for point, with the Macs trailing by just one   at 8-7 after the first 16 serves. A 4-0 run gave the Lions a bit of breathing room however, and that proved all the space needed. Led by Friedman and Lesnoy, Yeshiva were able to keep pace with Bryn Athyn, but were never able to overcome that deficit, falling 25-18.
   
• Much like the first set, set number two saw both sides deadlocked, with the scoreboard reading 19-17 in favor of the Lions. Six consecutive Bryn Athyn points dashed YU's hopes however, as the Maccabees stumbled, 25-17.
   
• Running out of gas following the six previous greuling sets of play, the Maccabees simply could not match Bry Athyn's depth or firepower in the final set, ultimately dropping by a score of 25-11.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Kills: Cillo (3), Lesnoy (2), Friedman (2)
• Aces: Friedman (2), Trabelsi (1)
• Blocks: Baker (1)
• Assists: Lesnoy (7), Stark (1), Pinchot (1)
• Digs: Friedman (7), Pinchot (7), Stark (6)

 
UP NEXT
Returning to NYC to kick off next week, the Macs will travel to John Jay College on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6:00 PM.