NEW YORK, NY - Sending off their graduating seniors with one last victory, the Yeshiva men's volleyball team took down Medgar Evers College, defeating the Cougars by a score of 3-0 on Sunday, Apr. 7, 2024.
Offensively, the Maccabees were led by
Eli Waxman and a freshly healthy
Lavi Friedman, with Waxman serving up 21 assists, while Friedman smacked down a team-best nine kills.
Friedman also had a stellar defensive performance in his first game back following an ankle injury, tallying nine digs, all while
Zanvy Lesnoy patrolled the net, leveling two blocks.
Before the match, Yeshiva took a moment to honor three of their seniors, thanking
Yaakov Baker,
Eitan Cillo and Friedman for everything they have given to the program over the years.
With the win, the Macs close out the 2024 season with a record of 2-26.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Leaning on kills from Jonathan Werta, Andrew Pinchot and Friedman, the Maccabees jumped out to an early lead, cracking double digits after just over a dozen serves at 10-4. While a Friedman attack error gave Medgar Evers their fifth point, Yeshiva then embarked on a truly dominant run, scoring nine straight unanswered points to rocket their advantage out to 19-5. The Cougars would manage a few more points over the closing minutes of the set, yet YU's hold on the period proved indelible, as the Macs shut out their opponent, 25-9.
- Despite falling behind briefly at the beginning of set two, the Maccabees quickly recovered their momentum, flashing out to a 12-6 lead behind the stellar serving of Jarrett Lazarus. The Cougars would continue to fight, closing within three at 16-13, but were unable to upset YU's edge, as the Macs closed out the set, 25-15, behind a 9-2 run.
- The third and final set proved the closest of the day, with only three points separating the two squads after 21 serves at 12-9. It was then though that Yeshiva were able to definitively slam the door shut on the match, going up 21-12 thanks to kills from Baker, Lesnoy and Cillo. Not giving up without a fight, the Cougars were able to pull the match within four at 24-20, only to see one final service error hand the Macs the win, with Yeshiva closing out the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.
MAC LEADERS
- Kills: Friedman (9), Lesnoy (5), Cillo (4)
- Aces: Waxman (3), Cillo (2), Baker (2)
- Blocks: Lesnoy (2), Cillo (1), Waxman (1)
- Assists: Waxman (21), Lesnoy (3), Cillo (2)
- Digs: Friedman (9), Frohlich (4), Cillo (3)
