NEW YORK CITY, NY - Capturing their first Skyline set win of the season, the Yeshiva men's volleyball team fell to Sarah Lawrence College, losing to the Gryphons by a score of 3-1 on Thursday, Feb. 29.
 
Offensively, the Maccabees were helmed by the duo of Lavi Friedman and Eli Waxman, with Friedman hammering down 11 kills on the night, while Waxman posted a season-high mark of 25 assists.
 
Waxman also had a big day on the defensive end of the ball, teaming up with Zanvy Lesnoy to form a towering wall, as each player stuffed three blocks. While his teammates patrolled the net, Andrew Pinchot proved crucial guarding the floor, as the first-year player scooped a team-high 20 digs.
 
With the loss the Macs are now 0-11, 0-2 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Yeshiva jumped out to an early lead in set number one, going up 12-6 off kills from Waxman, Pinchot and Lesnoy. While the Macs were able to maintain their edge through the next dozen serves, they could not hold off the SLC attack forever, as the Gryphons clawed their way back, seizing a 22-20 advantage of their own. Three straight YU points not only gave the Maccabees back the lead, but also a prime opportunity to take a 1-0 set lead, yet the men in blue and white could not close out the period, allowing Sarah Lawrence to capture the next three points, and take the set, 25-23.
   
• Unable to recover right away from their first set loss, the Macs opened set two in a hole, trailing the Gryphons by a score of 8-2 following the first ten serves. While Yeshiva did manage to rally off of kills from Lesnoy and Pinchot, closing the gap between the two squads to just two at 17-15, a 7-3 SLC run to close out the period secured the Gryphons the set win at 25-18.
   
• Mirroring the results on the second set, Yeshiva kicked off the third set down 8-2 following the first ten serves. However, unlike the previous period, the Macs fought back hard, looking to prove that they can compete against the best the Skyline has to offer. Embarking on an epic run, the Macs roared ahead, capitalizing on a 16-4 stretch that saw them leading 18-11. While SLC were able to cut the margin down to four at 20-16, Yeshiva's attack effectively held the Gryphons off, securing the set win at 25-17.
   
• Looking primed to send the match into a fifth and final set, Yeshiva led early on in the fourth, seeing the scoreboard read 10-8. However, it was then that the Gryphons kicked their play into another gear, one that the Macs simply could not match. Seeing themselves outscored 17-7 throughout the rest of the period, Yeshiva ultimately dropped the set, 25-17, and the match, 1-3.

 
MAC LEADERS

• Kills: Friedman (11), Werta (9), Lesnoy (8)
• Aces: Pinchot (2), Cillo (1)
• Blocks: Waxman (3), Lesnoy (3), Pinchot (2)
• Assists: Waxman (25), Stark (2), Pinchot (1)
• Digs: Pinchot (20), Friedman (15), Cillo (12)

 
UP NEXT
Hosting the first of two tri-matches at Max Stern, the Macs are set to host both St. Joseph's University Long Island, and Manhattanville College on Sunday, Mar. 3.